A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the US Forest Service's Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026 has been unanimously approved by the US Senate.
But it still must be passed by the US House and signed by President Joe Biden.
US Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mike Crapo of Idaho were joined by US Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Jim Risch of Idaho in reintroducing the bill earlier this year.
SRS was authored by Wyden and enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. Nearly two-thirds of Josephine County lands are federally-managed and not part of the local tax base that provides services.
The US Forest Service and US Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county.
SRS funds are critical to maintain education programs and law enforcement for many rural counties that contain federal lands that are exempt from property taxes.
US Representatives Val Hoyle of Oregon, McMorris Rodgers of Washington, and Joe Neguse of Colorado introduced companion legislation in the US House of Representatives where the bill is still under consideration.
