Changes at BCPL, Announcement of New Loans

Tia Nelson, Executive Secretary of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, has resigned from her position effective Friday.  She said she has been offered a position with a private foundation.  Deputy Secretary Tom German will be the new acting secretary. 

Following the announcement, Representative Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin) released a statement saying it is an ideal time for a review of BCPL to see if their functions can be absorbed by other state agencies.  BCPL has a $1.6 million annual budget, which is funded entirely by program revenue and investment earnings, not taxpayer dollars.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tia Nelson resigns from board that banned global warming discussions

Rep. Sanfelippo: Recommends review of public lands agency

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For Immediate Release

DATE: July 21, 2015

CONTACT: Tia Nelson, Executive Secretary (608) 266-8369

BOARD APPROVES $3.6 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND THE SALE OF 560 ACRES TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE

MADISON – The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) today approved slightly more than $3.6 million in State Trust Fund Loans to support nine community projects in Wisconsin.

The BCPL approved the following loans:

• Town of Bristol, Dane County / Finance road project / $480,000

• Town of Campbell, La Crosse County / Finance street and road projects / $550,000

• Town of Conover, Vilas County / Finance highway construction / $125,000

• Town of Conover, Vilas County / Refinance BCPL loan #2007103 / $143,127.79

• Town of Janesville, Rock County / Finance fire protection payment / $300,000

• Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District, Milwaukee County / Refinance BCPL loan #2015112 / $1,240,000

• Village of River Hills, Milwaukee County / Finance 2015 capital projects / $483,000

• Town of Spider Lake, Sawyer County / Finance road project / $80,000

• Town of Yorkville, Racine County / Purchase tanker truck and radio equipment / $216,863.70

The Board also approved the sale of 560 acres of School Trust Lands to the United States Forest Service. The School Trust Lands are located within the boundary of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Forest County.

The BCPL operates without taxpayer money and distributes more than 96 cents of every dollar of interest earned on BCPL State Trust Fund investments to Wisconsin’s public schools. This year’s earnings of $35.5 million are the largest distribution in the agency’s history and provide the sole source of state funding for K-12 public school library materials.

The 2015 library aid received by each public school district is available at: (http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=26522&locid=145).

Established in 1848 by the State Constitution, the BCPL consists of the Secretary of State Doug La Follette, State Treasurer Matt Adamczyk, and Attorney General Brad Schimel. The BCPL manages the Common School Fund, which was created in Article X of Wisconsin’s Constitution, as a permanent endowment to benefit public education.

To learn more about the agency, visit http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov.

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