Congress renews Secure Rural Schools funds for two years

Congress late last week reauthorized Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding for two years, which Lincoln County Administrator Darren Coldwell said is good news for Lincoln County’s road budget.

“It’s still putting off the inevitable, but it certainly gives us a cushion,” he said, referring to the county’s recent efforts to find a long-term solution to funding the roads department.

SRS funding was passed by Congress in 2000 to offset the loss of timber sales in counties containing federal forest lands. Following its expiration in 2015 and due to it uncertain future, the Lincoln County Commission in january this year began in earnest to find a new funding source before $14 million in cash reserves are depleted.

Coldwell said the county gets a portion of the SRS funds, with the balance going to area schools. Based on what he’s read about the funding package containing the reinstated SRS funds, he said he expects the county to receive 95 percent of the roughly $2.5 million it last received in 2015.

Other details such as timing of disbursements remain unclear, he said.