A. Financial Impacts 



The financial impacts on FWP are related to the fee title purchase price and maintenance/ 

 management costs. The Morris propraty will cost FWP $55,000. Maintenance/management costs 

 related to the purchase are associated with the habitat monitoring anticipated for the land as well 

 as a weed control management plan. 



The financial impacts to local govemmoits are the potoitial changes in tax revenues resulting from 

 fee title purchase. The Morris' paid $633.00 in taxes on this land in 1995. 



Montana Code Section 87-1-603 requires FWP 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 paymait in lieu of taxes provisicm on land owned by FWP insures Flathead County 

 tax revenues from this land equal to what the Morris' currently pay the coimty. 



B. Economic Impacts 



The purchase of this land by FWP will not change the use of this land from what has occurred in 

 the past. This land has not beoi used for commercial purposes in the past and these activities are 

 not planned under FWP owno^p. This area has been used for recreational purposes (picnicking, 

 camping, hunting, boating) and these will continue 



IV. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 



The Morris 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 wiU not reduce the property tax revalues from this land to local government 

 entities in Flathead County. Tax revenues in 1995 on this property were $633.00. 



There are no significant economic impacts associated with the purchase. 



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





