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Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Brings Relief To Rural Montana Counties

Weyerhaeuser closed its lumber and plywood mills in Columbia Falls last week.
Eric Whitney

Officials in some of Montana's most rural and timber dependent counties are relieved Congress has approved Secure Rural Schools funding to help balance their local budgets.

Secure Rural Schools, or S.R.S. funding expired last year and wasn't immediately reauthorized by Congress.

S.R.S helps support counties that used to rely on federal timber sale revenue. Timber production has declined on federal lands, taking that income with it.

Without S.R.S. revenue, Mineral County faced the loss of over $700,000 for local roads and schools.

County Commission Chair Roman Zylawy says that would have been devastating for local taxpayers.

"People would see an increase in their taxes on two fronts: One, at the county level at the Road Department and two, At their local school district level. We have only 4,000 people. That's a huge request to ask."

The compromise to extend Secure Rural Schools for two years was included in a Medicare  bill, and passed by both the House and Senate this week.

President Obama says he will sign the measure.

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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