U.S. Congress Revives Secure Rural Schools Program, Extends Funding Through 2026
In a significant legislative move, Congress has successfully passed a bill to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) following a bipartisan push. This development comes after a previous lapse in 2023, with only five members of the U.S. House voting against the measure.
The legislation, supported by both of Montana’s U.S. representatives, will continue funding until the 2026 fiscal year, also covering payments from the preceding two years. Previously, Congress had not renewed the program, causing funding disruptions for rural schools and communities. “Montana’s students and teachers lost out on millions in funding when Congress failed to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Program,” stated Rep. Troy Downing. “As a former educator, I understand that every penny counts when it comes to the classroom.”
Since its inception in 2000, the SRS program has been crucial for rural counties that include extensive public, tax-exempt federal forest lands. The U.S. Forest Service implements a funding formula that allocates 25% of revenue from these lands, based on factors such as economic activity and timber harvest levels, to aid rural schools, road maintenance, and other necessary services.
Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers addressed a letter to House leadership, emphasizing the urgency of reauthorizing the SRS. The program had previously provided $16 million to 32 Montana counties in 2023, as per a report from the U.S. Forest Service.
All members of Montana’s federal delegation supported the letter, advocating for the funding to be passed either independently or as part of broader year-end legislation. The Senate had already approved a related funding bill in June, co-sponsored by Montana Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, but the House vote only occurred last week.
With the reauthorization secured, counties are expected to receive payments for 2024 and 2025 within a 45-day timeframe. Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties, remarked, “Passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a major win for counties and a milestone in advancing county policy priorities.”
Montana’s Northwest counties, once the center of a thriving timber industry, stand to benefit significantly. In 2023, Lincoln County received $4 million, Sanders County got $1.6 million, and Flathead County obtained $1.2 million.
