Montana loses $1.2 million in Forest Service money

Federal budget sequestration requirements will take a big bite out of annual Forest Service payments to Montana counties this year.

Gov. Steve Bullock received a letter Aug. 19 from Forest Service chief Thomas Tidwell informing him that payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act will decrease by $1.2 million this year to cover the full cost of sequestration.

That will still leave $1.4 million for Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) recommended projects. That money is typically used for fire prevention, trails and weed control.

“We regret having to take this action, but we must ensure that the Forest Service meets the requirements of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985,” Tidwell said.

Last year, Flathead County received $1.7 million from the Secure Rural Schools program and another $2.1 million in federal payment-in-lieu of taxes (PILT) funding. The two programs are intended to compensate rural counties for the loss of local tax revenue from large federal landholdings, such as national forest and national park lands.

“The governor knows how important these funds are when it comes to supporting schools and infrastructure throughout Western Montana,” said Mike Wessler, Gov. Bullock’s deputy communications director. “It’s disappointing that Washington’s inability to get work done is affecting communities across the country.”

Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and former Rep. Denny Rehberg long supported continuing both federal funding programs.

The senators warned last year that the money the states received from the Secure Rural Schools program in 2012 would be the last from the century-old program unless the program was reauthorized.

Twenty-two states lost funding from the Secure Rural Schools programs, including Oregon, $3.9 million; California, $2.1 million; and Idaho, $1.7 million.