Salem, OR – A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers from Oregon and Idaho is rallying to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Act, a 24-year-old piece of legislation that has provided billions in critical funding for rural communities, including Oregon. The bill, which was initially passed in 2000, has helped support schools, public services, and infrastructure in counties with federal land within their borders. However, the bill’s future was thrown into uncertainty after it failed to receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives late last year.
On February 4, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, both Democrats, alongside Idaho Republicans Senator Mike Crapo and Senator Jim Risch, announced that they were reintroducing the Secure Rural Schools Act in the Senate. The bill aims to restore essential funding for communities that rely on federal land revenues, particularly those in Oregon, which have faced significant losses in timber revenue over the years.
The effort has been mirrored in the U.S. House, where a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Representatives Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) and Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon), reintroduced the bill on February 14. While no hearings have been scheduled yet for the bill, its passage would secure millions of dollars in funding through 2026, with Oregon set to receive approximately $80 million.
Critical Funding for Rural Schools
For many rural school districts in Oregon, the Secure Rural Schools Act is a lifeline. One of the largest recipients in the state, Klamath County School District in southern Oregon, has received between $800,000 and $1 million annually from the fund in recent years. Glen Szymoniak, the superintendent of Klamath County School District, emphasized the importance of these funds, especially when local budgets are stretched thin.
“Having that money each year is a big deal for us,” Szymoniak said. “When you can’t pass a bond, having a million dollars to fix roofs or something like that is a big deal.”
Originally designed as a transitional measure to offset lost timber revenue due to federal logging restrictions in the 1990s, the Secure Rural Schools Act has played a key role in sustaining local economies. Oregon, which has received over $4 billion from the program in the last 24 years, has used much of that money to support its school districts, particularly those in areas like the Willamette National Forest, where timber harvesting was significantly reduced to protect endangered species.
Funding Distribution and Challenges
The distribution of Secure Rural Schools funding has evolved over the years. In 2023, Oregon made changes to how it counted these funds, no longer considering them as local revenue for the statewide school funding formula. This shift has led to disputes over funding fairness, particularly for districts that depend heavily on the funding, like Klamath County.
The Oregon Department of Education has pledged to address these concerns, agreeing to back-pay districts that missed out on direct funding due to the updated distribution model. The department is expected to pay millions of dollars in back compensation by October 1, including over $2.5 million owed to Klamath County School District.
Despite these complications, the Secure Rural Schools Act remains a critical funding source for many districts in Oregon, particularly those near national forests. In 2024, 30 counties in Oregon received nearly $74 million in Secure Rural Schools funding, with districts in Eugene, Roseburg, and Albany among the top beneficiaries.
A Lifeline for Rural Communities
For many school districts, the Secure Rural Schools funds are the only federal money that can be used flexibly to address a variety of needs. Szymoniak explained that unlike other federal programs that come with restrictions, the Secure Rural Schools funding can be used for everything from purchasing buses to investing in maintenance and long-term infrastructure projects.
“Other federal money, like Title I and Title IX, has really strict allowances for how you spend it,” Szymoniak noted. “With Secure Rural Schools money, because there’s no strings attached, that’s where we go to buy buses, to get equipment for maintenance for the school. That’s where we can build efficiencies and invest in the future.”
As the Secure Rural Schools Act continues to face challenges in Congress, the reintroduction of the bill offers hope for rural communities that depend on these funds to support essential services. The bipartisan push from lawmakers in Oregon and Idaho underscores the critical importance of this funding for the schools, roads, and public services that serve rural populations across the West.
Senator Ron Wyden, who co-authored the original bill in 2000, expressed optimism about the reintroduction of the bill, urging swift action from House lawmakers to ensure the continuity of funding for rural communities.
“I’m glad this bill is being reintroduced right at the start of this new Congress in this bipartisan spirit, and I strongly urge our House colleagues to act with the same urgency and bipartisan ethic to reconnect this proven lifeline ASAP for rural communities in Oregon and nationwide,” Wyden said in a statement.
As discussions move forward, the Secure Rural Schools Act stands as a vital tool for supporting rural America, helping counties weather financial challenges and continue providing critical services for their residents.
