Kilmer calls for swift renewal of Secure Rural Schools program ( WA and across the West )

kbkw ^ | December 19, 2014

[george76]

Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) called on Congressional leaders to reauthorize a program that provides key support to rural communities. Representatives Kilmer, Chris Stewart (R-UT), Jared Huffman (D-CA), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) led a letter urging the swift renewal of Secure Rural Schools (SRS) to help counties with national forests.

Since national forest land cannot be taxed by counties or states, for more than 100 years the Forest Service has shared revenues from timber harvests on federal lands with the nearby communities. In the letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi the members pointed out that SRS program provides funding to forest communities facing declining revenue from U.S. Forest Service timber sales on federal lands. The program helps rural counties pay for infrastructure projects and supports local school districts.

...

Kilmer’s letter was signed by 34 other members and is supported by the National Association of Counties, National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, The School Superintendents Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies, National Rural Education Association, and the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition.

[JoeFromSidney]

There's a similar provision for support to communities near military bases. The bases are untaxable, but the local communities have to provide schooling for the children of troops assigned to the base.

Of course, if the troops live off base, the private homes they live in are taxed. The taxes are paid by the troops, if they own their homes, or directly by the landlords, if the homes are rented. Ultimately the troops pay either way, since taxes are figured into what the landlord has to charge renters.

[Salvation]

Buy back the federal land and cut the federal programs in your state.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Don’t do it. Make the Forestry Service, Park Service and the Federal Land Management and other agencies that have control over 50% of western lands and minerals come up with funding by increasing sales and leases or if they don’t want to do that then by firing half their staff to come up with the funds.

[Paladin2]

Turn over the acreage to the respective State.

[goldstategop]

Better yet turn over federal lands to local rural communities so they can put them to use as they best see fit.

They can manage the land better than federal bureaucrats in Washington. And they can be given a viable economic base to survive without taxpayer handouts.

[george76]

Utah to seize own land from government, challenge federal dominance of Western states

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3233810/posts

[DaveA37]

“Since national forest land cannot be taxed by counties or states, for more than 100 years the Forest Service has shared revenues from timber harvests on federal lands with the nearby communities.”....

The “shared” revenue amounts to NOTHING compared to the value of the timber harvested. (I happen to sit on my county boards Forestry Committee. When we complained that we were not getting a fare share as originally paid, the Feds changed the rules and we wound up getting even less). DO NOT TRUST anything the gubmint tells you nor proposes).

[george76]

Yes. The states and other locals should control these lands with private ownership as the general principal.

The feds will never willingly let go of their empire.