Secure Rural Schools: A Lifeline for Idaho’s Communities and Economy
Idaho’s identity — and its economy — is inseparable from its public lands: vast forests, wild rivers, and federal lands that draw visitors, support industries, and define what makes Idaho, Idaho.
While there are many benefits to our public lands, there is also a cost. Undeveloped land is exempt from property taxes, which means counties with a high percentage of public land lack the tax base they need to fund essential services like schools, roads, and other municipal services.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self‑Determination Act (SRS) helps bridge that gap — and its benefits reach far beyond classrooms.
What is the SRS Act?
Passed in 2000, SRS was designed to stabilize funding for counties with large tracts of federal land, especially where traditional revenue from timber harvests or forest product sales have declined. Under SRS:
Federal payments are made to eligible counties to support schools, roads, bridges, public safety, and other critical local services.
The law splits funds into categories: Title I (mostly education and roads), Title II (projects on federal lands, such as forest restoration and watershed work), and Title III (county‑managed projects).
With over 60 percent of the state being federally owned public land, SRS payments can equal tens of millions of dollars each year for Idaho. 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.
why SRS Matters for Idaho’s Businesses & communities
Schools & Workforce Stability
Strong schools are more than places of learning — they help keep working families in rural Idaho. SRS payments help maintain school budgets, support teacher salaries, and prevent cutbacks in transportation and programs. This in turn matters to businesses: from recruitment to retention, a healthy, educated workforce depends on strong community infrastructure.
Infrastructure & Access
Many of Idaho’s roads and bridges traverse public lands. As timber production and logging have declined in recent decades, so has the funding for road repair and access improvements, especially in rural areas. SRS funding helps ensure roads are safe and passable, especially in winter — preserving access for workers, supplies, tourism, and commerce.
Economic Resilience & Community Preparedness
When counties receive reliable SRS funding, local governments can plan ahead — investing not only in schools and roads, but also in emergency services, wildfire prevention, and community health programs. These essentials strengthen local quality of life, which in turns helps retain and attract businesses and employees.
Predictability & Budget Certainty
One of the biggest challenges has been that SRS has historically been authorized in short increments, creating uncertainty for budget planning. Idaho’s business community benefits when counties can count on consistent funding, instead of scrambling each year. That’s why strong advocacy for multi‑year reauthorization (through 2026 and beyond) matters.
Recent Wins & Remaining Gaps
In 2023, Idaho counties received a total of $22.8 million in SRS payments, which were distributed in April of 2024. Unfortunately, the program was not reauthorized after 2023. Although the program’s funding was temporarily extended, Congress must still pass legislation to ensure continued funding through 2026 and beyond.
The U.S. Senate has already passed the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 to extend the SRS program. But what happens in the U.S. House of Representatives is critical to prevent detrimental impacts to local services and infrastructure.
Conclusion
The Secure Rural Schools Act is more than just federal dollars flowing into Idaho counties — it’s a commitment to fairness, stability, and shared prosperity. For businesses and communities that depend on public lands , SRS is essential. Sustaining this program means preserving the bedrock upon which rural Idaho thrives.
Let’s keep Idaho’s public lands — and the communities that surround them — strong.
IBO will be monitoring the developments in Congress around SRS reauthorization and elevating voices of community leaders and businesses in counties with large federal landholdings. To share stories of how SRS impacts your business or community, please email info@idahobo.org.