Timber Counties Looking Forward To Federal Funding New Law Makes Up For Reduced Logging Money

A new law that changes the way states get federal road and school funding has officials in Western states cheering and the Forest Service hoping it will help build better relations with forest communities.

In a letter this week, Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck told regional officials that the law “presents a significant challenge to implement,” but an excellent opportunity to improve relations.

The law includes a provision requiring jurisdictions that take in more than $100,000 to commit 15 percent to 20 percent to environmental projects.

Local officials have plenty of leeway in how they spend the money, but Dombeck hopes they focus on issues such as wildfire prevention, protection for endangered species and watershed restoration.

The agency is hoping for “real motherhood and apple pie projects … God’s work,” said Chris Wood, Dombeck’s top aide.

The law, sponsored by Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and signed in October by President Clinton, removes a longstanding link between logging and school funding.

Under a 1908 statute, counties with tax-exempt federal forests receive 25 percent of the revenue generated from the forests, primarily from logging.

But logging on federal land has declined about 80 percent in the last decade, sharply decreasing funding for many rural counties. Rural school officials found themselves laying off teachers and cutting programs.

Next year, counties can choose to get their funding for roads and schools the old way. Or, under the new law, they can average their three highest timber payments from 1986 to 1999.

The biggest beneficiary of the new funding is expected to be Oregon, which will receive about $260 million in 2001. Behind it is California with $65 million, Washington state with $44 million and Idaho with almost $23 million.

County commissioners in timber country already are making plans for the money.

Shoshone County, hardest hit in North Idaho because of abundant federal forest land, stands to gain as much as $4.1 million in total, although a county official says the number is probably lower.

“It really helps balance some things out,” said County Commissioner Sherry Krulitz.

“We weren’t even able to give employees costof-living increases this year.”

Krulitz sits on a new committee formed to decide how Idaho’s counties will spend the federal money.

She said the five northern counties may form a district, and use the money for projects including noxious weed control and trail work on the Route of the Hiawatha.

Lane County (Ore.) Commissioner Anna Morrison said she hopes her western Oregon county will use some money on forestry education and search-and-rescue, as well as specific projects, such as eliminating a problem grass on coastal dunes.

Many county officials view the law as a much-needed boost for education and road funding, others as a way to take back some control over forest lands from the federal government.

“This is an example of giving local governments an opportunity to have more flexibility and latitude to better utilize the resources,” said Whatcom County (Wash.) Executive Pete Kremen. He hopes his county will spend the money on search-and-rescue and an educational project in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

In Washington’s Skamania County, population 10,000, where about 80 percent of the county is national forest, Commissioner Al McKee said he’s hoping to put some money toward improving forest roads that lead to recreational areas.

But he’s holding out for more direction from the Forest Service. His county will take in about $1.6 million for school and road funding, a fraction of which will go to environmental projects.

“We’re going to do our darnedest to make sure this works,” McKee said.

Staff writer Zaz Hollander contributed to this report.