bcpl.wisconsin.govBoard of Commissioners of Public Lands Home

You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Sign In It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. What’s New BCPL Celebrates Earth Day 2024 Library Aid Distribution - $65.0 Million 2024 Winter Timber Sale 2021-2023 Biennial Report Interactive Loan Map Available BCPL-UWSP Partnership Racine’s Belle City Ceremony WI Counties May 2020 BCPL Article La Crosse County and the BCPL WI Towns Association SpotLight Assets & Beneficiaries School Trust Funds Common School Fund Normal School Fund University Fund Agricultural College Fund Library Aid History BCPL State Trust Fund Loan Program Application Process General Obligation Loan Fact Sheet Revenue Obligation Loan Fact Sheet Current Interest Rates Eligibility and Repayment Loan Application Request Forms Sample Documents Loan Calculator Loan Application Mistakes to Avoid BCPL Loan Map BCPL Library Aid Distribution Map BCPL Loan History BCPL Project Photos School Trust Lands Timber Management Land Bank Transactions Upcoming Land TransactionsPublic Access Interactive Ownership Map Submerged Logging Timber Sale Bids and Results Timber Harvest Locations Public Land Ownership Surplus BCPL Property for Sale Land Records Record Types Public Land Survey Records Archives Access Online Records About Board Meeting Documents Press Releases News Staff Directory Public Records Policy Statement AA/EEO Policy Statement Publications Page Content 1 ​​​​​​​​​​​State of Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands ​​ W ho we are and what we do The Board of Com​missioners of Public Lands (BCPL), Wisconsin’s oldest state agency, is comprised of Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski​, State Treasurer John Leiber​, and Attorney General Josh Kaul. ​We proudly carry on the pioneering commitment of our state’s early leaders to a constitutionally protected form of public education financing that originated with millions of acres of land granted by the federal government. ​ Nearly all of the School Trust Lands were sold over 100 years ago. The proceeds were used to establish the School Trust Funds . The Common School Fund continues to grow with revenue from unclaimed property, clear proceeds of civil and criminal f​ees, fines and forfeitures. The Normal School Fund continues to grow thr​ough revenue from timber production on School Trust Lands. ​ We manage these Funds and the remaining School Trust Lands for the benefit of public school libraries, the University of Wisconsin, and the state’s citizens. See our Common School Fund Brochure and our Normal School Fund Brochure ​ for details. We also maintain a rich archive of historical records related to the agency’s past and present land holdings. With only 9.5 full-time employees we manage over $1.4​ billion in Trust Fund assets and 77,000 acres of School Trust Lands. ​ How you benefit This small state agency is an integral part of Wisconsin’s history and economy. Our financial investments, land ma​nagement practices, and archive benefit every citizen of the state. We generate investment income for distribution as public school library aid. See what your school received by clicking here ​. We loan money to municipalities and school districts for public purpose projects. We contribute to Wisconsin’s sustainable timber economy ​​, combat forest fragmentation, and secure public access to large blocks of northern forests. We manage an extensive archive consulted by land owners, surveyors, researchers, and others interested in this rich source of historical information about the state’s land and early settlers.​ ​In 2023, BCPL celebrated winning a first place award for percent participation ​ in the State ​combined ​ Partners in ​Giving​ campaign. ​ Home - Contact BCPL - BCPL FAQs Copyright © Board of Commissioners of Public Lands All Rights Reserved - (608) 266-1370 Madison • (715) 277-3366 Lake...