For the Gazette

MADISON – The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) approved a State Trust Fund Loan totaling $110,000 to the village of Whiting to finance operations and maintenance costs.

The Board approved loans totaling $1,548,544.45 at today’s meeting.  They include:

• Town of Remington, Wood County / Purchase plow truck / $135,419.95
• Town of Sparta, Monroe County / Purchase dump truck with plow / $53,124.50
• City of Tomah, Monroe County / Finance TID #8 small business loan program / $70,000
• City of Tomah, Monroe County / Finance TID #8 development incentive / $1,000,000
• City of Tomah, Monroe County / Finance TID #8 veterans’ assistance housing loan / $180,000
• Village of Whiting, Portage County / Finance operations and maintenance / $110,000

The BCPL operates entirely on program revenue, without taxpayer money and distributes more than 96 cents of every dollar of interest earned on BCPL State Trust Fund investments to Wisconsin’s public schools.  The 2018 earnings of $35.7 million are the sole source of state funding for K‑12 public school library materials.

A list of 2018 library aid received by each public school district is available at:

https://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/Shared%20Documents/Agency%20Info/Library%20Aid%20Distribution%202018.pdf

Established in 1848 by the State Constitution, the BCPL consists of the Secretary of State Doug La Follette, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, and Attorney General Josh Kaul.  The BCPL manages theCommon School Fund, which was created in Article X of Wisconsin’s Constitution, as a permanent endowment to benefit public education.