HELENA – The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation says land and mineral management this year has produced $133.3 million for Montana public education.
The DNRC said Tuesday that is a record amount generated by school trust lands for K-12 schools. The agency says that makes up about 18 percent of the state’s share of public school funding.
The money comes from oil, gas and mineral leasing, logging, real-estate development and recreational use. The bulk of the $133.3 million came from $81.5 million paid by Arch Coal for the right to develop the state-owned Otter Creek coal tracts.
The DNRC says another $16 million will go toward school facilities and classroom technology.