Approximately 100 Missouri school districts are looking at budget cuts as a result of inaction by Congress on the Secure Rural Schools Program, an education group said on Monday.
In Texas County, payments have already dropped: In fiscal year, $179,000 was received. That’s projected at $147,780 in fiscal year 2017, a drop off about 18 percent during the time period. The Mark Twain National Forest is situated in northwest Texas County. In addition to schools, other taxing districts also are affected.
In 1908, federal lands began being removed from local tax bases. As a result, the federal government initiated payments to local communities to offset the lost tax revenue. The payments are based on historical trends of timber receipts in the community. Of the Missouri districts affected, 14 received more than $100,000 last year and nearly 50 districts received at least $30,000.
As a result of the inaction to reinstate the program, on March 7 the National Forest Service issued 25 percent payments of timber receipts to states based on the original 1908 Act. School district payments for 2016, which are based on timber receipts, are well below the funding levels that are called for by the Secure Rural Schools Program. These reductions are in addition to a cut of 6.9 percent due to across-the-board cuts to the federal budget.
For many school districts, the decrease and potential complete loss of these federal funds are staggering. For example, the Alton School District has seen the amounts change significantly in recent years. This year, the payment to the district is expected to be $133,267. It was $263,391 last year and was $414,440 during the 2008-’09 year.
“Congress must continue the historic national commitment to rural counties and school districts served by the SRS program. Without immediate congressional action on forest management and SRS, forest counties and schools face the loss of irreplaceable essential fire, police, road and bridge, community and educational services. Congress must act on short term fiscal 2016- 2017 funding for Secure Rural Schools and active long-term forest management programs generating revenues and local jobs,” said the American Association of School Administrators in a release on Monday.