Late last week, the Obama Administration announced that mandatory budget cuts known as “sequestration” will not apply to the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program for payments being dispersed in the next several weeks.  While the sequestered monies from last year are still be contested in Congress, this latest news from the Administration paves the way for rural communities across the nation to receive nearly $40 million in additional funding. 

Last year, the Obama Administration proclaimed that SRS funds for FY 2012 were subject to a near 5 percent sequestration, and that Title I and Title III sequestered amounts would be recaptured from Title II.  Congress remains skeptical of the Obama Administration’s interpretation of federal law in light of budget actions taken earlier in 2013.  Congressional hearings may still occur over the matter.

In October of 2013, Congress approved an additional one-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides monies to forested counties (and schools located within) in light of a dramatic reduction in federal timber harvesting receipts.  Furthermore, all of RCRC’s member counties successfully submitted election requests to the Brown Administration in order that funding requests can be received and processed by the U.S. Forest Service.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.