By Reagan Priest | Arizona Capitol Times
Key Points:
- GOP lawmakers want to institute reforms at the State Land Department
- An auditor general’s report on the agency found 51 areas in need of improvement
- Gov. Katie Hobbs wants to give the agency time to implement auditor general recommendations
Republican lawmakers say the State Land Department needs a “complete overhaul” this session after decades of falling short of its statutory duties.
The reform push is spurred by two reports from the auditor general that found the department had not developed statutorily required land disposition plans, had not adjusted rental rates on agricultural land to reflect market conditions and had neglected to inspect land previously used for mining to ensure its safety for other uses. Including both reports, the auditor general made 57 recommendations for improvement to the Land Department.
The department manages 9 million acres of state trust land designated to generate revenue for 13 state beneficiaries, including the state’s K-12 public schools, public universities and several other state entities. The auditor general found that deficiencies in the department could be negatively affecting its ability to generate revenue for beneficiaries.
