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Public-domain lands have been appraised by the individual departments and agencies and an estimated present-day value placed on them, based on evaluation criteria employed in evaluating Federal or privately owned adjoining properties.

It has been possible for all departments and agencies to complete the job of placing an estimated present-day evaluation on publicdomain acreage under their control.

For the sake of clarity, acquisition cost figures have been used in this report covering Federal realty, including the buildings, structures, and facilities located thereon. Public-domain acreage is listed at estimated present-day evaluations. Also included in the realty portion of this report are figures covering areas of construction in progress, leasehold improvements, and real-estate collateral acquired.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgment is made to the Government department and agency representatives who have been of such great assistance to the committee in the preparation of this report. They have been particularly helpful to the committee in furnishing needed data either direct or on a representative-for-agency basis.

Without the able assistance of qualified and interested Government representatives, the compilation of accurate and comprehensive data in the realty and personalty fields, as represented herein, would not have been possible.

CONCLUSION

Interest in Federal property inventory reports, as compiled by the House Committee on Government Operations, continues to increase. Inquiries are constantly being received from the congressional offices from schools and universities located throughout the United States, from the military establishments throughout this country and from abroad, as well as from private organizations, clubs, and individuals for copies of each report. Together with the interest in this project, evidenced by the numerous requests for the report, many commendations have been received on the project itself and the work the committee is doing in bringing about, and constantly improving, this long overdue public undertaking.

The committee feels that each Federal property inventory report it releases is a step forward in realizing the objectives set forth in the original intent of House Resolution 26, introduced in the House of Representatives on January 5, 1955, by Congressman Martin Dies, which was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations. The initial report, as of June 30, 1955, was a starting point and represented efforts to record, in inventory form, assets of the Federal Government in one document. Up until the time our first report was prepared, there was no central place where one could find data covering all Federal real and personal assets which were located in continental United States, the Territories, and at overseas bases. Many improvements and refinements were reflected in the committee's reports as of June 30, 1956, and June 30, 1957. A primary objective in improving these Federal property inventory reports has been the recording of real and personal assets of the Federal Government in a realistic sense-at estimated present-day evaluations. The undertaking of evaluating public domain properties has been a tremendous one and the Depart

ments and agencies who have been working with the committee staff in completing this assignment are to be congratulated on the job they have done.

Federal personalty will continue to be reported at acquisition cost. This is on the advice of the General Accounting Office representatives and other accounting specialists within the Government.

Federal real estate, excluding public domain properties, is again listed herein at known acquisition cost. This particular area of the Federal property inventory report concerns the chairman and members of the House Committee on Government Operations. It is expected that in the near future evaluation criteria will be formulated and put into practice which will enable the committee to compile and present to the Members of Congress and to the public an inventory report which will be far more realistic, practical, and useful than one which reflects acquisition cost figures in this area.

The scope of an inventory of the properties owned by the Federal Government is tremendous and complex. These inventories are located in areas throughout the world and the recording and reporting of these assets is a massive undertaking. Improved bookkeeping methods and accounting controls which are being stressed constantly are proving to be a helpful asset, both within the civilian and military departments and agencies of the Government. Government property representatives assisting in this endeavor are deeply interested in improving records which represent the Government's investment in the real and personal property fields. It has been established that the need is great for an up-to-date Federal property inventory project such as the committee has undertaken. This project will continue to reflect various economic changes in values as well as improved inventory reporting practices. The results, represented in informative report form, will be of constant utility.

In compiling and reporting data of a classified nature for inclusion in this report, the committee has kept in mind the importance and necessity of security regulations. Efforts have been made to record classified data in a manner which will insure secrecy and at the same time remain informative and accurate. Breakdown figures have been used in each instance possible and only in restricted areas have lumpsum figures been recorded. Substantiating data covering classified areas are available within the departments for those qualified to see and study on a need-for-use basis.

Since 1950 there has been a remarkable increase in interest and activity among county, city, and State officials regarding property values.

In March of this year an inquiry was directed to the Honorable Frank Bane, executive director, the Council of State Governments, Chicago, Ill., informing him of the committee's inventory project and requesting his assistance in furnishing the committee with data concerning individual State property inventories and methods used in compiling them. A proposed questionnaire was furnished Mr. Bane, for his approval, to be sent to various State property officials to use in recording the requested data.

Questionnaires were sent to officials responsible for overall financial control in 18 States (Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon,

Rhode Island, and West Virginia). Replies were received from 16 States. It was learned that 11 of the 16 States do have real property inventories. Ten of these States have property values recorded at acquisition cost; 1 State records at "sound value"; 2 States have values recorded at acquisition cost and current appraised value. The time element involved in computing and compiling inventories varies. Some States compile annual inventories while others compile them biennially, and at various intervals. The State of California follows the 5-year compilation period. Some States are in the process of setting up inventories for the first time. In the main, property evaluation is done by personnel of the various State agencies concerned. In a few States, values are set by commercial appraisers. The State administration in North Carolina is presently working on a compilation of its real property assets and it is expected that evaluation assistance will be obtained from the North Carolina State Bar Association on a pro bono publico basis.

It was learned that the number of personnel utilized in the compilation of property inventories varies from a few departmental employees in some States to a total of 50 full-time employees in others. The time element and costs involved in the preparation of inventories vary greatly. Although there is great difference in the methods and manner of recording property and its value in States at the present time, there are strong indications that a uniform pattern will be established in the not too distant future because of the aroused interest in property inventories which has been evidenced and as State officials exchange ideas and publications on this subject.

The Federal property inventory report, issued by the Committee on Government Operations, is being used as a handbook in many States at the present time and more and more attention is being focused on this publication not only in the Washington area but throughout the United States. These inventory reports have recently been mentioned in an outstanding book on State property entitled, "California Lands-Ownership, Use, and Management," prepared under the auspices of the American Forestry Association. Attention has been called to the report in The Economic Analysis and Evaluation of the Land Resources of the State of New Mexico, prepared for the New Mexico Land Resources Association.

This Federal property inventory report records, as of June 30, 1958, Federal real and personal assets as being over $262 billion. It is interesting to observe, in this connection, that the size of the national debt, as of June 30, 1958, was reported as being over $276 billion. These are sizable amounts, and it is understandable that recordkeeping operations involved in inventories of this size are tremendous.

Efforts to improve this property inventory undertaking will continue. Eventually the committee expects to be able to present an inventory which will reflect not only acquisition cost of Federal real estate, but at the same time its estimated present-day evaluation. At that time it will be felt that the objective of the undertaking will have been accomplished. It is a known factor that this project is one of the most worthwhile and valuable performed by the House Committee on Government Operations.

With continued interest in and cooperation by Government department and agency representatives, working with the committee staff, the ultimate objective can be accomplished.

PART II

MASTER RECAPITULATION OF FEDERAL PERSONALTY AND REALTY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

AS OF

JUNE 30, 1958

JUNE 30, 1957

JUNE 30, 1956

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