U.S. Senate Approves Funding for Rural OR Schools and Communities
Friday, March 30, 2007
The economic outlook for Oregon's rural counties is brighter today after a U.S. Senate vote to extend payments to rural counties. The state is set to receive an estimated $1.8 billion over the next five years after senators voted this week to fully reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. Peg Reagan, former Curry County Commissioner with the Conservation Leaders Network says it provides vital funding for Oregon schools and communities.
"All Oregonians are going to get a good benefit out of it because it's going to be funding a lot of county services that every Oregonian uses."
In addition to school funding, the county payments also fund National Forest restoration, road projects, public health, law enforcement and libraries. The payments are compensation for states that have a lot of federal land that can't be taxed. The House still has to authorize the five year extension. Reagan points out that without this funding rural schools would flounder.
"It's critical. They have to have that funding in order to provide education to all of our kids. They can't do it without it."
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