SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (KNEP) – President Joe Biden issued the 30 x 30 program an executive order which the federal government conserves 30 percent of the lands in the U.S. by 2030. Chairman Jeff Metz of the Morrill County Board of Commissioners said this plan hurts Nebraskans.
“We just oppose the entire 30 x 30 plan because it has a potential to really devastate our county and our taxpayers,” said Metz.
“For Morrill County that would mean 275,000 acres under federal control,” said Metz. “We have 915,000 total acres in Morrill County and 30 percent of that is just unacceptable we couldn’t live with federal controlling.”
“When you exempt a lot of property out of a county you’re going to have to increase other peoples taxes to make up the difference,” said Metz. “30 percent is a big number for your school district, for your NRDs. For your county to have to increase taxes 30 percent I’m not going to be happy or comfortable doing that.”
Metz said farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land.
“We got to take care of it we can’t have erosion or over grazing things like that,” said Metz. “We preserve our own property just because we make a living at it and we don’t need the federal government come in and telling us how to run or conserve these properties.”
