Oregon

Oregon received admission into the United States of America through the Admission Act of February 14, 1859 following the adoption of the Constitution of the State of Oregon. Through the constitution and Admission Act, the state received sections 16 and 36 (one square mile parcels) in each 36 square mile township in a trust for the support of public education. Schools received almost 3.4 million acres in the original grant. Just 758,585 surface acres and 1,200,000 mineral acres remain in the common school trust. The Oregon Department of State Lands, under the direction of the State Land Board, manage the land as trustee for the beneficiaries generating surface and mineral revenue from both renewable resources that are distributed directly to schools and non-renewable sources.

The constitution also established a permanent fund where non-renewable resource revenue such as land sales and mineral leases are retained and invested to provide a perpetual source of funding for schools. The fund is managed by the State Treasurer and the Oregon Investment Council. The balance of the fund passed one billion dollars early in 2006 and distributed $45,400,000 to the public schools of Oregon in FY 2006. Due to fluctuation in the fund investments and resulting distributions, the Board has voted to calculate the bi-annual distributions on a three-year rolling average. To grow the permanent fund, Oregon dedicates additional revenue streams to the fund, including escheated and unclaimed property. Rent and royalties from activity on and under navigable waterways, such as sand and gravel extraction and houseboats and marinas, also are deposited into the permanent fund for schools.

Beneficiary groups in Oregon are invited to participate with working groups in preparation for revising and adopting new policies. The beneficiaries interact with the land office on a regular basis, attending land board meetings, and interacting with the Oregon State Legislature.

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