The Legislature established the Lands and Facilities Trust Fund in 2001 (Act 61, Section 2807) for projects that aid the management of Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) lands, facilities, and recreational assets.
Eligible activities include repair and maintenance of state parks and conservation camps; maps and surveys of land boundaries; resource inventories; maintenance of ANR land boundaries, roads, trails, and facilities; and other stewardship activities. Land acquisition is not eligible for funding.
The fund can accept monies from a variety of public and private sources, including donations, timber sale receipts from state forest land, grants, special use permit fees, federal funds compatible with the goals of the fund, and other funds appropriated by the Vermont State Legislature. In accord with the enabling legislation for the trust fund, the Department prepares an annual report to the legislature which describes revenues and expenditures from the fund over the preceding fiscal year.
For the first few years of the fund, no expenditures were made so that full capitalization of the fund could be accomplished as quickly as possible. Annual funds now available are five percent of the moving average of the fund’s market value over the prior 12 quarters. ANR has a process for evaluating potential projects to be funded by the trust. The criteria and process used for evaluating potential projects as well as a listing of the many projects completed is described within the annual legislative reports described above.
Income tax deductible contributions, payable to “Vermont Lands and Facilities Trust Fund,” may be sent to:
Lands and Facilities Trust Fund Business Office Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2 Montpelier, VT 05620-3801