U.S. Senate passes bill reauthorizing funding for rural schools

The U.S. Senate last week passed a bill reauthorizing billions of federal dollars to support schools, roads and other services in rural counties in Montana and around the western United States.

Congress first enacted the U.S Forest Service’s “Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program” in 2000 to help fund counties comprising large swaths of public, tax-exempt forest land that previously received revenue from timber sales. The program expired in 2023, and a measure to extend the program did not pass muster in the House of Representatives late last year during budget negotiations.

But the newest bill, passed unanimously by the Senate on June 18, extends the funding program through 2026.

Montana’s U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, both Republicans, introduced the bill along with a bipartisan group of senators mostly from western states in February.

“Many of our rural counties rely on the SRS Program to support schools, road maintenance, and more. I’m glad to see my bipartisan bill to reauthorize SRS pass the Senate, and I’ll always fight to support education programs and critical infrastructure projects in our rural communities,” Daines said in a press release.

The SRS funding formula is based on economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary by county. The payments go toward rural schools, road maintenance and other programs that serve the counties.

In Montana, 32 counties received $16 million in 2023, according to U.S. Forest Service data.

Counties in the northwest part of the state received the most money, with Lincoln County receiving $4 million, Sanders receiving $1.6 million and Flathead earning $1.2 million.

The bill now heads to the House for consideration.