THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 12, 1995 TAG: 9505110016
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The Allen administration hopes to raise millions with which to help fund its prison-building program by selling off surplus state land. It's certainly reasonable to make such sales if the land really is ``surplus,'' but there may be less gain to be had than is alleged.
The administration has identified 112 tracts amounting to 32,500 acres that could be sold. Some should prove very lucrative including the 2,200-acre Elko tract near Richmond and a 567-acre tract at Camp Pendleton that lies near the pricey Croatan residential development.
Other tracts are more problematic. Almost 20 percent of the 32,500 acres are farm land used by Virginia Tech for agricultural research. Another 240-acre tract is owned by Portsmouth's Tidewater Community College.
It would be foolish to unload land at colleges that is now usefully employed or that may be needed for future expansion. To sell now only to have to buy later would not make economic sense. Furthermore, some land owned by schools was acquired through gifts and is supposed to be used for educational purposes, not to turn a fast buck. Reneging on such arrangements would be wrong and could discourage future donors.
A commission will study the issue and make proposals for the disposition of the tracts now identified. There's no reason those with no value to the state at present or in the foreseeable future shouldn't be sold. But even then, some foresight is needed.
The commission is considering the feasibility of public-private joint ventures for large tracts like the Elko land. Instead of a one-time infusion of cash from the sale of undeveloped land, the state might be able to share in the greater proceeds available if the land is developed. That makes sense.
Finally, land is a permanent asset. If it is to be sold, the proceeds shouldn't become part of the general fund to be frittered away on daily expenses. Rather, they should be reinvested in something that will last. Building prisons is one possibility, capital spending for higher-education and mental-health facilities has also been proposed. Another worthy suggestion is investment in state parks.
In the Bible, the shortsighted and hard-up Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Once his hunger was satisfied, he discovered the deal didn't amount to a hill of beans. The commonwealth of Virginia should avoid similar rash acts to satisfy momentary appetites.
Any sale of land must be carefully considered, and any proceeds ought to be prudently reinvested. The land is forever, but cash - as Booth Tarkington pointed out - has a habit of behaving like loose quicksilver in a nest of cracks. by CNB