On Thursday, June 10, 2010, the Congressional Rural Caucus held a briefing to educate members about the history and long-term reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (SRSCA). Representatives from the Partnership for Rural America present information to staff on the importance of reauthorizing the SRSCA, which provides assistance to rural counties and school districts affected by the decline in revenue from timber harvests on federal lands.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Contract (SRSCA) provides assistance to rural counties and school districts affected by the decline in revenue from timber harvests on federal lands. Historically, rural communities and schools have relied upon a share of receipts from timber harvests to supplement local funding for education services and roads. The steep decline in timber sales during the 1980s decreased the revenues that rural school districts received from these timber sales.
In response to this decline, Congress passed the "Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act" (the Contract) to stabilize the payments to counties and to compensate for lost revenues. In 2010, the Contract will provide approximately $419 million in funding to 729 rural counties, parishes, and boroughs across the United States.
To view an interactive map of county payments nationwide, visit the Partnership for Rural America Campaign’s website at http://www.partnershipforruralamerica.org/USMap.shtml.