Crazy story, it's one square mile within the park that many folks have been trying to get permanently protected for years. Wyoming threatened to auction it at one point, In the end the state got 100 million for it, plus other concessions. But it's supposed to be some of the best views of the Tetons out there, and an important migration corridor. That has to be a record price though. Isn't that like 640 acres? That well over a 100k an acre.

https://dnyuz.com/2024/12/30/100-million-for-one-square-mile-deal-to-protect-land-in-grand-tetons/

Yes, 1 sq mi = 640 acres

Where the hell did the NPS find 100 million dollars laying around? .gov is 33 trillion in the red.

chris1515 said:

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Initial entirely uninformed gut feeling is…that's sort of a d*** move by Wyoming, $100M? Just grant it over to the park for $1 or soemthing token like that. That park and the associated wildlife are major parts of the Wyoming economy.

Happy to see that get resolved and not be developed.

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Here's an article to help resolve your "uninformed gut feeling ".

https://www.wyomingnewsnow.tv/news/wyoming-governor-approves-100-million-sale-of-kelly-parcel/article_c2637f2c-c6df-11ef-bd41-43139d18b412.html

Part of the deal includes an agreement with the feds to back off from the Biden administration's plans to restrict mineral development in the desert that is SW Wyoming. In recent years the federal government's new restrictions on coal mining and use have been a big hit on Wyoming's economy. To think that Wyoming just just give that parcel to the feds with no compensation is not realistic.

Value is derived from what someone is willing to pay. In this case the government. I don't disagree with you on giving the land away but the funds could be used elsewhere in that state.

Kinda funny, but the entire Louisiana Purchase was 15 million, even in today's dollars that's less than 500 million. Wyoming did well I guess. Or France did horribly. Or both.

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Where the hell did the NPS find 100 million dollars laying around? .gov is 33 trillion in the red.

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Wyoming absolutely gorges on Federal Aid. Its per Capita Federal Subsidies are twice the national average. In the latest biannual budget it shows annual Federal Transfers of $3 Billion, so the $100 Million is just another dollop on an already huge pile of federal transfers.

Help me out. Exactly what are the "federal transfers"? We talking welfare, oil revenue, Air bases, park upkeep?

Not all of those are really equal. If there is an AFB in Wyoming, I don't really feel like that's a transfer to Wyoming, as it's for all our benefit.

Per USA Facts

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34% of transfers Wyoming governments received from the federal government were for the purpose of supporting public welfare. Public welfare includes cash assistance to individuals through programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid payments to health care providers. Funding for health and hospitals was the next largest category of federal transfers Wyoming governments received at 31%.

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Kinda funny, but the entire Louisiana Purchase was 15 million, even in today's dollars that's less than 500 million. Wyoming did well I guess. Or France did horribly. Or both.

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They probably viewed it then like we do Iraq and Afghanistan. It was non-strategic land they were occupying at great cost during a time of global war and fiscal deficit.

Wow. Wonder if Indian reservations are a big part of that?

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Wow. Wonder if Indian reservations are a big part of that?

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I had wondered that as well but apparently they have their whole other set of books separate from the Wyoming State Budget. Reservations are still considered Federal Land held it Trust and so are not part of state spending.

Thanks

Windy City Ag said:

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Where the hell did the NPS find 100 million dollars laying around? .gov is 33 trillion in the red.

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Wyoming absolutely gorges on Federal Aid. Its per Capita Federal Subsidies are twice the national average. In the latest biannual budget it shows annual Federal Transfers of $3 Billion, so the $100 Million is just another dollop on an already huge pile of federal transfers.

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To say Wyoming gorges on Federal Aid is misinformed. I live in a county in which over half the property is owned by the Federal government, in either national forest or national park lands. Wyoming provides services for those properties. Know how much property tax the feds pay on them?