Idaho Congressional Delegation, State Treasurer announce $24 million in Secure Rural Schools payments for local counties

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, and Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth announced that Idaho counties will receive $24 million in Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments for Fiscal Year 2025.
SRS payments go to counties with large amounts of federal lands to support schools and maintain roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. Idaho is set to receive the third-highest total payment in the U.S.
“The federal government made a promise to rural communities that rely on SRS for schools, road maintenance, and other essential services,”said Risch. “Until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, I will work with Congress to reauthorize this important program.”
“The federal government has a responsibility to counties home to federal lands in Idaho and across the country to help support essential public services like roads, emergency response and schools given these communities’ inability to collect property taxes,”said Crapo. “I continue working to secure a long-term, permanent solution so county governments can plan with certainty and no longer have to rely on year-to-year congressional approval.”
“Rural counties across Idaho depend on the Secure Rural Schools program,”said Simpson. “I’m pleased to see these funds allocated to help Idaho schools, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. As a longtime supporter of the SRS 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.”
“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.”
“As these Secure Rural Schools funds are distributed to Idaho counties, they will help support the schools, roads and bridges that rural communities rely on,”said Ellsworth. “My office is proud to help ensure these dollars reach counties and further opportunities for our rural communities.”
First authorized by Congress in 2000, the SRS program helps counties containing tracts of federally-owned, tax-exempt forest land support essential local services and infrastructure. Funding for SRS comes through timber receipts and other revenue generating activities within U.S. national forests.