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Board of Educational Lands and Funds

General Information
  • Formal Name:
    Board of Educational Lands and Funds
  • Contact Person:
    Kelly L. Sudbeck, Executive Secretary 555 North Cotner Blvd. Lincoln NE 68505 Phone: 402471-2014 or kelly.sudbeck@nebraska.gov website: www.belf.nebraska.gov
  • Purpose:
    The Board was established in 1867 (the date of Statehood) when the Federal Government made a grant to the Board of 2.8 million acres of land in trust for the benefit of the public schools of Nebraska. The Nebraska Constitution in 1875 provided in Article VII, Sec. 9 the following: The following funds shall be exclusively used for the support and maintenance of the common schools in each school district in the State as the Legislature shall provide:a. Income arising from the perpetual funds.b. The income from the unsold school lands, except that costs of administration shall be deducted from the income before it is so applied.c. All other grants, gifts and devises that have been or may hereafter be made to the state which are not otherwise appropriated by the terms of the grant, gift or devise, andd. Such other support as the Legislature may provide.
  • How Many Affectable:
    All of the Nebraska Public Schools are affected.
  • How Many Served:
    According to the Nebraska Board of Education there are 376,131 students in grades K-12 in the Nebraska Public Schools.
  • Year Created:
    Although the land was granted to the State in 1867, the "Enabling Act of the State of Nebraska" was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. The relevant section of that act is Section 7
  • Year Active:
    See above (1867). The current successor Board was created in 1939.
  • Sunset Date:
    Not applicable.
Authorization
  • Authorization Citation:
    The Enabling Act. Current authorization pursuant to Legislation is provided in Section 72-201.
  • Parent Agency:
    The general management of all lands set apart for educational purposes shall be vested, under the direction of the Legislature, in a board of five members to be known as the Board of Educational Lands and Funds (Art VIII, Section 6, NE Constitution)
Memberships and Meetings
  • Number Of Members:
    5
  • Who Appoints:
    Governor with the consent of a majority of members elected to the Legislature.
  • Legislative Approval:
    Legislative approval required.
  • Qualifications Of Members:
    These are set out in Section 72-201. One member shall be appointed from each of the congressional districts as constituted on January 1, 1961, and a fifth member appointed from the State at large. One member shall be competent in the field of investments.
  • Per Diem:
    $50 per day for each day's time actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their office.
  • Expense Reimbursement:
    Yes. Necessary traveling expenses incurred while performing business of the board.
  • Term Length:
    5 years
  • Terms Rotate or Expire At Once:
    Terms Rotate
Meetings Required In:
  • Required FY 17-18:
    12
  • Held FY 17-18:
    12
  • Required FY 18-19:
    12
  • Held FY 18-19:
    12
  • Required FY 19-20:
    12
  • Held FY 19-20:
    12
Operations
  • Support Staff:
    Yes
  • Shared or Separate:
    Separate
  • FY 17-18 Budget:
    $5,288,440 + RE Taxes $14,145,000. Expended $4,395,899 + RE Taxes $12,454,151.
  • FY 18-19 Budget:
    $5,306,810 + RE Taxes $14,570,000. Expended $4,258,423 + RE Taxes $12,378,594.
  • FY 19-20 Budget:
    $5,234,575 + RE Taxes $14,570,000. Expended $3,914,569 + RE Taxes $12,078,061.
  • Other Funding Sources:
    None.
  • Spending Authority:
    The board manages 1.254 million acres of land remaining from the original grant. The proceeds from leasing said lands pay for all expenses with the remaining funds distributed to the public schools provided by the Constitution. 72-232.02-232.07.
Accomplishments
  • Since July 1, 2016:
    The board has entered into numerous wind turbine, oil and gas, and solar leases which provide additional non-agricultural revenue sources, acquired the mineral interests in a piece of property in Adams County, Colorado through testamentary of Elma Welch; and reduced Staff more than 5% by absorbing one full-time position.