A divisive study from the University of Idaho finds the state could lose up to $111 million a year by taking over management of federally owned lands, shouldering increased costs for wildfire protection, recreation facilities and other expenses. But the report from the UI Policy Analysis Group noted that under ideal conditions the state could potentially gain $24 million a year. Federal lands, managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, make up close to 64 percent of Idaho. Lawmakers have proposed transferring 16.4 million acres of that land to the state to take local control of timber management and access. In eight of nine scenarios, analysts predicted the state would lose money/Deanna Pan, Daniel Walters & Jacobs Jones, of the Inlander. More here.

Question: Is it worth the risk of up to $111M in eight scenarios to make mebbe $24M in another?