{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fulcher.house.gov/2022/04/19/id-1ae7b3f1-12d0-4620-a2d0-18b2476d27cf/", "Idaho State Treasurer, Congressional Delegation Announce Secure Rural Schools Payments", "2022-04-19", "2022", "2022-04", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Russ Fulcher", "F000469", "fulcher.house.gov", "fulcher", "https://fulcher.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Contact:\n\nAlexah Rogge\n\n202-225-6611\n\nalexah.rogge@mail.house.gov\n\nBOISE, ID \u2014 Members of Idaho\u2019s congressional delegation and State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth announced Idaho counties will receive a total of $23.4 million in payments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Under Idaho law, 30 percent of the SRS funding goes to counties to help with schools and the remaining 70 percent is earmarked for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. That means Idaho schools will receive roughly $7 million, and Idaho roads and other county projects will receive roughly $16.4 million for FY 2021.\n\nThe U.S. Forest Service, and in some cases, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The totals are based on a formula that takes into account economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county. SRS payments are critical to maintain education programs for many rural counties that contain federal lands exempt from property taxes. Idaho received the third-highest total in the U.S., behind California and Oregon.\n\n\u201cThis funding is so valuable to our rural schools and infrastructure. My office looks forward to getting these dollars into the hands of our Idaho counties to further opportunities for our rural areas,\u201d said Idaho Treasurer Julie Ellsworth. \u201cA big thank you to Senators Crapo and Risch as well as Congressmen Simpson and Fulcher for securing this appropriation for Idaho.\u201d\n\n\u201cSRS payments are essential for rural counties across Idaho and the West, but a permanent solution is needed,\u201d said Senator Mike Crapo. \u201cAdequate funding for schools, roads and infrastructure repair will only be guaranteed once we can reach agreement on a self-contained funding mechanism outside the yearly votes in Congress, and we are working toward the goal of a more permanent solution.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased we were able to secure this SRS funding for Idaho\u2019s rural counties, but more needs to be done,\u201d said Senator Jim Risch. \u201cThe federal government has an obligation to the communities that count on the SRS program. We owe it to them to find a lasting solution.\u201d\n\n\u201cSRS payments are critical in funding Idaho schools and infrastructure, and I am pleased to see this funding come to our state,\u201d said Representative Mike Simpson. \u201cThis is essentially the federal government\u2019s property tax for counties where there are large amounts of federal land. If you don\u2019t have the ability to collect local property taxes, these programs are necessary to provide funding for schools, roads, and other local services \u2013 especially in Idaho\u2019s rural counties.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, local governments and schools in rural counties in Idaho have experienced strained budgets due to immense federal land ownership in the West,\u201d said Representative Russ Fulcher. \u201cThese areas take a big hit because so much of the land in their jurisdiction is not taxable. While this year\u2019s funding is positive, the short-term nature of these announcements can cause issues for these communities and schools in making long-term plans. Looking forward, it is imperative that Congress prioritize a long-term, predictable solution for PILT and SRS to assist these counties.\u201d\n\nFor more information about the administration of public funds by the State Treasurer\u2019s Office (STO), visit the STO\u2019s website HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fulcher.house.gov/2022/04/19/id-1ae7b3f1-12d0-4620-a2d0-18b2476d27cf/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.199796959757805, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}