The financial impacts to local governments are the potential changes in tax revenues 

 resulting from fee title purchase. Flathead Land Trust paid $638.00 in taxes on 



this land in 1994. After receiving their tax exempt status they did not pay taxes on 

 this property in 1995. r . 



Montana Code Section 87-1-603 requires MFWP to pay the county "a sum equal to 

 the amount of taxes which would be payable on county assessment of the property 

 were it taxable to a private citizen". This payment in lieu of taxes provision on land 

 owned by MFWP insures the Flathead County tax revenues from this land. 



B. Economic Impacts u ;i ' - 



The purchase of this land by MFWP will not change the use of this land from what 

 has occurred in the past. TTiis land has not been used for commercial purposes in the 

 past and these activities are not planned under MFWP ownership. This area has been 

 used for recreational purposes (picnicking, camping, hunting, boating) and these will 

 continue. 



IV. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 



The Coriell property purchase will protect important wildlife habitat in the Flathead River and 

 help mitigate habitat losses from Libby and Hungry Horse dams. Since this property is 

 located close to other public lands in the river corridor, public recreation opportunities are 

 enhanced and protected. 



The fee title purchase will restore the property tax revenues from this land to local 

 goverrmient entities in Flathead County. Tax revenues in 1994 on this property were 

 $638.00. 



There are no significant economic impacts associated with the purchase. 



The fee title purchase of the Coriell property appears to be in the public interest. 







€4 



