A bipartisan group of lawmakers has urged House leadership to swiftly reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS). This program provided essential support to 32 Montana counties, distributing $16 million from the U.S. Forest Service in 2023. The funding, however, expired last year without reauthorization during budget negotiations.
Montana’s entire federal delegation endorsed a letter seeking SRS funding, either as a standalone measure or as part of year-end legislation. Despite a bill co-sponsored by Montana Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy successfully passing the Senate in June, the House has not yet voted on it.
The SRS program is crucial for counties with significant public, tax-exempt forest lands that once benefited from timber sales. The federal government uses a funding formula based on factors like economic activity and timber harvest levels to share 25% of revenue generated on federal land. This money supports rural schools, road maintenance, and other local services.
The letter highlights the urgent need for reauthorization, stating, “Rural counties, parishes, and boroughs across the country are already facing the impact of the program’s expiration.” It emphasizes the program’s role in wildfire mitigation, forest health, and the maintenance of roads and public schools, urging Congress to renew its commitment to these areas.
In Montana, Northwest counties, historically reliant on the timber industry, are the primary beneficiaries. In 2023, Lincoln County received $4 million, Sanders County $1.6 million, and Flathead County $1.2 million.
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