Oregon's congressional delegation is hoping to secure a two year extension of timber payments to rural counties. The Secure Rural Schools provision is in a bill the U.S. House is voting on this week.
The Secure Rural Schools Act provides payments in lieu of taxes for timber-dependent counties in Oregon and other states. Oregon Democratic Congressman Peter DeFazio says this bill helps counties while lawmakers try to find a long term solution to funding shortfalls.
DeFazio: "It answers the question of whether or not they can provide law enforcement, jails, county health and for many rural school districts this is an absolutely critical funding. Plus it supplements the budgets in larger cities like Eugene, Springfield and Corvallis."
The county funding extension is part of the "Doc Fix" bill which the House is expected to vote on this week.