Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000

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The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–393 (text) (PDF)) was a bill passed into law by the United States Congress on October 30, 2000. The law amended the United States Forest Service's county payments program for FY2001-FY2006 to allow states or counties to choose to receive the average of the three highest payments for FY1986-FY1999 in lieu of the regular 25% payment, but requiring that 15–20% of those payments be used by the counties for specified purposes, in accordance with recommendations of resource advisory committees for projects on federal lands, or returned to the Treasury.

The Forest Service county payments should not be confused with Bureau of Land Management "payments in lieu of taxes."

The Act originally expired in 2006, but was renewed regularly by Congress numerous times, each time at reduced spending levels, with the last payments made in 2023.[1][2][3][4] The act has not been renewed since 2023, leaving the affected counties with budget shortfalls.[5]

In 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act contained language that ordered proceeds from timber sales on federal lands to be directed to the federal government instead of the counties, creating a significant funding gap for affected counties.[5] Oregon's congressional delegation, led by Representative Cliff Bentz and senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, are working with federal agencies to clarify the intent of the act and provide a legislative fix if necessary.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Preusch, Matthew. "33 Oregon counties will share an unexpected $740 million". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "Timber payments get Obama's OK". The Union Democrat. July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  3. ^ Mapes, Jeff (September 26, 2013). "Timber payments for Oregon counties clears last congressional hurdle". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  4. ^ "Western Oregon Counties receive nearly $26 million from the Bureau of Land Management in Secure Rural Schools payments". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Ehrlich, April (August 18, 2025). "'We are sinking': Oregon timber counties flail, awaiting Congress to renew key funding". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved August 19, 2025.