Here in Plumas County claim owners pay an annual property tax assessment on mining claims which is earmarked to help fund our public schools.
Our County tax Assessor, well aware that dredging is the only method that most claims can be profitably worked has reduced this years mining claim tax assessments by 60% on larger claims, while claims 40 acres and under are now exempt from this tax. Knocked quite a chunk off my annual tax bill.
Good for me, but multiply my savings by a factor of 1,500 (Rough number of claims in the county) it's a huge hit for our public schools which are struggling to keep teachers and programs going.
Something the guvenor never thought about I'll bet.
Plumas