On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers urged House leadership to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program, which allocated $16 million to 32 Montana counties in 2023. The U.S. Forest Service funds, crucial for rural schools and road maintenance, are at risk as the program expired in 2023 without reauthorization. Despite Senate approval of a related bill, the House has yet to vote on it.
All four members of Montana’s federal delegation signed the letter, requesting the funding be included in broad, year-end legislation or as a standalone measure. This program is essential for counties with large public, tax-exempt forest lands, previously reliant on timber sale revenues. The federal formula distributes 25% of revenue from federal lands, considering factors like economic activity and timber harvest levels, to support local programs.
The letter states, “Rural counties, parishes, and boroughs across the country are already facing the impact of the program’s expiration. The SRS program underscores the vital partnership between federal land management and local government services, supporting everything from wildfire mitigation and forest health to the maintenance of roads and support of public schools. With longstanding and strong bipartisan support behind SRS, Congress must reaffirm its commitment to these rural counties.”
Montana’s Northwest counties, a former timber industry hub, benefit significantly. In 2023, Lincoln County received $4 million, Sanders County $1.6 million, and Flathead County $1.2 million.
