Kilmer among those urging rural school program be renewed; program aids districts with national forests
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 23, 2014
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of the 6th Congressional District was among 35 representatives who signed a letter last week urging congressional leaders to reauthorize a program that gives money to counties with national forests.
Kilmer, a Democrat from Gig Harbor whose district includes the North Olympic Peninsula; Chris Stewart, R-Utah; Jared Huffman, D-Calif.; and Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., led the letter urging swift renewal of the Secure Rural Schools program.
The program was previously extended through fiscal year 2013.
During the last year that payments went out, Clallam County received $866,081 and Jefferson County received $877,496.
Grays Harbor County received $369,996 and Mason County received $393,938.
Across the nation, the program sends funds to more than 700 counties and 4,000 school districts.
National forestland cannot be taxed by counties or states.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act provides assistance to rural counties and school districts affected by the decline in revenue from timber harvests on federal lands.
In the letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, members of the House of Representatives pointed out that the program provides funding to forest communities facing declining revenue from National Forest Service timber sales on federal lands.
The program helps rural counties pay for infrastructure projects and supports school districts.
“Failing to renew the SRS program will cause significant harm to the ability of rural and timber communities to provide basic services to their residents,” the members wrote in the letter sent Friday.
“We urge you to work quickly, in a bipartisan fashion, to reauthorize, fund and make payments under SRS as early as possible in the next Congress ensuring that local governments across the country can access these essential funds.”
Washington state is typically among the top recipients of the funds.
The letter is supported by the National Association of Counties, National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, the School Superintendents Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies, National Rural Education Association and the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition.
