Natural Gas Could Save Funding for Our Schools

I for one have always cautioned about gov purchases of land. Why? Too much of it is exempt. It is extremely hard on the tax base! The gov did find a way to make up a little bit of the difference and for years the school system has been depending tremendously on that money. Now it may be gone! Fortunately, we may be able to make up for it from the sale of natural gas. In fact, it could eclipse by a far degree any funding we have realized from the US for our forest service payment in lieu of taxes. We could conceivably be able to lower your property taxes and provide $$$$ for citizens like Alaska does. Wouldn't that be nice?

As Charley Brown would say, “Groan.” We should keep in mind that it is the very existence of the national forest and the state parks and forests that makes Pocahontas County the unique place that it is. People come here and buy land here because of the guarantee of unchanging beauty that is provided by the public land. Many places that are similar tourist destinations are similarly blessed: the Smokey Mountains, Cape Cod, Sanibel Island in Florida, Yellowstone, the Outer Banks, etc, etc. People come to these places because the national or state government has set aside land that is free from development. People can buy property in these areas free of the risk that the beautiful spots will be commercialized and become like everywhere else.

Our national and state parks and forests insure we will remain unique. They help assure that our population density will remain lowest of any county in the east. People come here because they crave natural beauty and solitude. That’s what we’ve got to sell. If you want to start land values spiraling downward (along with resulting tax revenues) start selling off the wild and undeveloped places. Or we could allow a thicket of gas development. Same result.