U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, along with Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth, announced on April 16 that Idaho counties will receive $24 million in payments for Fiscal Year 2025 under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program.
The SRS funding is important to rural communities because it helps support local schools and infrastructure projects in areas where a large amount of land is federally owned and not subject to property taxes. Under Idaho law, 30 percent of these funds go toward schools while the remaining 70 percent are used for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure needs.
The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management oversee distribution of the funds based on a formula that considers economic activity, timber harvest levels, and other factors specific to each county. According to officials, Idaho will receive the third-highest total payment nationwide after Oregon and California.
“Federal programs like SRS are vital to Idaho’s rural communities, where a high level of land is owned by the federal government. However, this funding has grown increasingly difficult to garner support for in the U.S. Congress, as states without vast federal landholdings often view this program as a subsidy,” said Fulcher. “I’m pleased to see these funds released to our state and will continue to work towards a long-term solution that ensures Idahoans—not the federal government—are the sole determiners of Idaho’s future success and well-being.”
Simpson said: “Rural counties across Idaho depend on the Secure Rural Schools program… I have been proud to advocate for critical funding alongside my Idaho colleagues, and we will continue to fight for a long-term solution.” Crapo added: “The federal government has a responsibility… I continue working to secure a long-term, permanent solution so county governments can plan with certainty…” Risch said: “Until we can bring historic timber revenue back… I will work with Congress to reauthorize this important program.” Ellsworth noted: “As these Secure Rural Schools funds are distributed… they will help support schools, roads and bridges that rural communities rely on.”
Congress first authorized SRS in 2000 through legislation aimed at assisting counties containing federally owned forest lands which are tax-exempt. The payments come from timber receipts or other revenue-generating activities within national forests because affected counties do not receive tax revenue from those lands.
Russ Fulcher currently serves in Congress representing Idaho’s 1st district after replacing Raúl Labrador in 2019 according to his official biography. He previously served in the Idaho Senate from 2005 until 2014 as reported by Ballotpedia. Born in Boise in 1962, Fulcher now lives in Meridian according to his congressional biography. He graduated from Boise State University with degrees earned in both 1984 (BA) and again in 1988 according to his official biography.
