U.S. Forest Service Issues 2015 Secure Rural Schools Payments to States

This week, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced that Federal Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination (SRS) payments will be issued to recipient states in the coming days.  California counties are anticipated to receive approximately $29 million in Federal SRS payments, which is roughly half of what the program received when first enacted.  

Final payment detail for FY 2015 can be accessed here (beginning on page 11).

In 2000, Congress enacted the Federal SRS program to provide funding for rural counties and school districts to replace lost revenue from dwindling forest receipts due to a national decline in timber harvesting.  The last reauthorization of the Federal SRS program was made in late March 2015 through H.R. 2, commonly referred to as the “Doc Fix,” which contained enough funding to support a two-year extension.  While funding has been secured for Fiscal Year 2015, Federal SRS funding will need to be reauthorized again this year. 

RCRC leadership and staff recently met with key Congressional members and staff to discuss long-term funding solutions and will continue these discussions throughout the year.