Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS)

1. Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) Joanne Keene, Government Relations Director Siri Mullaney, Budget Manager

2. History of the “Contract” with Rural Communities • 1891: Forest Reserve Act enacted, 40 million acres of forest lands are placed in Forest Reserves. • 1905: Forest Reserves renamed National Forests. • 1906: President Roosevelt proposed revenue sharing to promote multi-use conservation on forested lands.

3. History Continued • 1908: Congress passes a 25% revenue sharing program (25% of receipts returned to counties) to support roads and public schools. • 1980s: National policies diminish ability to generate revenue from National Forests • 1998: Revenues from national forest activities and payments decline by 70%

4. History Continued • 1998: National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition is formed to promote multiple use management of and secure payments to forested counties and rural schools • 2000: SRS signed into law • 2007 SRS extension • 2008 SRS reauthorization

5. Current Status of SRS • SRS reauthorization expires September 30, 2011 • Coconino County currently working with National Association of Counties and the Forest Counties Schools Coalition on reauthorization

6. Purpose of SRS • Stabilize and transition payments to county schools and roads • Invest in the land and create employment opportunities • Improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for Federal lands

7. Components of SRS • Title I: Payments to rural counties for road maintenance and education • Title II: Payments to Resource Advisory Committees for forest restoration and enhancement projects • Title III: Payments for reimbursement of emergency services performed on federal lands

8. Annual Payment • Counties receive payment each year • Payments generally will be made in December for the fiscal year ending September 30. • Title I and Title III funds are paid to states to be distributed to counties • Title II funds are held in a Forest Service account to pay for approved projects

10. SRS Receipts in Coconino County • In FY10, Coconino County received $4,449,023.63 • Schools/Roads each receive $1,738,737 • $326,287 will be allocated to Title III projects • Funding for search and rescue etc, community forestry, fire prevention etc.

11. Title I Funds • Title I funds distributed 50/50 to schools/roads • Coconino County receives approximately $4.5 million • $4.156 Million in Title I • $342,317 in Title III • County currently maintains more than 300 miles of roads

12. Use of Funds • Title II funds unobligated in one fiscal year shall be available in the following year. • The 2008 reauthorization required the formation of a RAC in order spend these dollars • Authority to initiate Title II and Title III projects ends September 30, 2011 • Title II and III funds not obligated by September 30, 2012 shall be returned to U.S. Treasury

13. Title III – County Funds • 2008 Reauthorization made changes in Title III • Narrows the activities eligible for funding • Requires county to return unobligated funds by September 30, 2012, to U.S. Treasury.

14. Title III – County Funds Funds may be used only for 3 purposes • Firewise Communities program • Reimbursement for emergency services on federal land paid for by the county • Develop community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs)

15. Title III History • 2000 Act: Allocate to Title II OR Title III • 2000 Act: Title III Allocation of 18.2% ($600,000-$750,000) • 2000 Act: Broader funding scope

16. Title III History • Act Reauthorization: no more than 7% to Title III • Act Reauthorization: $300,000-$400,000 Allocation • Act Reauthorization: Scope Limited

17. Title III Comment Period • Coconino County Title III Comment Period: September 27 – November 11th • Project Adoption: November 16th • Project List: Handout

18. Prior Title III Initiatives • Community Cleanups • Blue ridge and Sitgreave Community Wildfire Protection Plan Administration • Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership • Forest Service Litter IGA

19. Prior Title III Initiatives(Continued) • CREC: Forest Health • CREC: Forest Education • Parks & Recreation: Trails Planning, Crews & Easements • Parks & Recreation: Fire Prevention

20. Prior Title III Initiatives(Continued) • Community Development: Comprehensive Plan Update • GIS: Aerial Mapping • Sheriff: Search & Rescue Capital

21. SRS Funding • SRS provides funds to 729 rural Burroughs, Counties and Parishes • Provides education dollars for 9 million students • Coconino County received or is scheduled to receive: • $5.6 million in FY08 • $5.05 million in FY09 • $4.54 million in FY10 • $4.09 million in FY11

22. Advocacy Efforts • If this Act is not reauthorized after FY11, the County will have a reduced ability to fund road maintenance projects and wildfire protection, search and rescue and patrol activities of Federal land. • The School Districts would be severely impacted in their ability to maintain the same level of service currently provided to students.

23. Advocacy Efforts • Failure to extend the SRSCA would lead to an annual payment loss of $468 million dollars starting in 2012-13. • There will be an economic impact to construction, roads, education, conservation, and various other government funded services and projects. • The loss of the funding is estimated to lead to various businesses throughout the United States, mainly in rural America, losing on an annual basis almost $1.37 billion in revenues, government at all levels losing over $188 million in tax receipts and over 11,000 people losing their jobs in 2012-13.*

24. Advocacy Efforts • Counties are asking members of Congress to urge the Administration to include a long-term reauthorization of SRS, and funding in the 2012 budget request to Congress • Working with Congress on reauthorization

25. Questions?