Letter to House Leadership: June 11, 2008

June 11, 2008

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker U.S. House of Representatives H-232 U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20515	The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer     Majority Leader     U.S. House of Representatives     H-107 U.S. Capitol     Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable James Clyburn Majority Whip U.S. House of Representatives H-329 U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20515	The Honorable David Obey     Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations     U.S. House of Representatives     H-218 U.S. Captol     Washington, DC 20515

Re: Supplemental Appropriations for the “Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act” (H.R. 2642)

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn, and Chairman Obey:

On behalf of the 4,400 school districts and communities that receive federal payments-in-lieu-of taxes through the "Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act,” I am writing to urge your strong support to ensure that funding for this Act is included in the final Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations bill.

We urge the House to adopt the Senate’s amendment to H.R. 2642, which would provide $400 million in continued funding for the “Secure Rural Schools Act.” Without the enactment of this measure, funding for the program will expire at the end of this month; and, the fiscal impact on many school district budgets would be significant.

As you know, the “Secure Rural Schools Act” provides assistance to more than 600 rural counties and 4,400 school districts in 42 states as federal payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to jurisdictions with federal forest lands. Without this critical source funding, schools will be forced to layoff teachers and personnel and forgo priority services/operations, which would affect student achievement.

In northern California, for example, the Del Norte County Unified School District has been relying on the funding it receives under this Act to maintain school facilities, including new roofs and boiler plants. Non-taxable federal and state lands make up 85 percent of the district, including the Smith River National Recreation Area, Six Rivers National Forest, and Redwood National Park.

In Alaska, the loss of $9.4 million among 32 communities in the Tongass and Chugach Forests will only aggravate the shortage of critical school operational funding in communities still struggling to survive.

In Virginia, for school divisions like Highland, Bath, Shenandoah and Alleghany, the revenue loss per pupil is quite noticeable. With this year’s spike in oil prices and cuts in state funding to local governments, the loss of funding provided by the “Secure Rural Schools” program is no small issue. For example, a loss of $80,000 in “Secure Rural Schools” payments would be the equivalent of two lost teachers’ salaries in Alleghany County.

Your efforts to support the “Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act” are greatly appreciated. Please continue to urge Congress’ strong bipartisan support for this provision in the FY08 Supplemental Appropriations bill.

If we can be of further assistance, please contact Deborah Rigsby at drigsby@nsba.org or 703-838-6208.

Thank you again for your leadership on this very important issue.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Resnick
Associate Executive Director

Cc:     The Honorable Nick Rahall, Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources 
            The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio