Drafter
Clerk 06/22/2006
Title
A MOTION expressing support for the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, P.L. 106-393.
Body
WHEREAS, in 1908 the United States Congress enacted and subsequently amended a law that requires that twenty-five percent of the revenues derived from national forest lands be paid to states for use by the counties in which the lands are situated for the benefit of public schools and roads, and
WHEREAS, the sharing of revenues from the national forest lands is, in part, a recognition that these lands are not subject to local taxation, and also that counties provide services that directly benefit the lands and the people who use the lands, and
WHEREAS, the principal source of revenues from national forest lands is from the sale and removal of timber, which has been sharply curtailed in recent years due to the Northwest Forest Plan, with a corresponding decline in revenues shared with counties, and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress in the Secure Rural Schools and Self Determination Act of 2000, P.L. 106-393, recognized a need to stabilize education and road maintenance funding through predictable payments to the affected counties, job creation in those counties and other opportunities associated with restoration, maintenance and stewardship of federal lands, and
WHEREAS, P.L. 106-393 provides funds for the benefit of affected counties, as well as an opportunity to invest a portion of the payments in projects on federal lands or that benefit resources on federal lands, or in county projects or activities, and
WHEREAS, there are three hundred sixty-five thousand eight hundred fifty-six acres of federal forest lands in King County, comprising twenty-five percent of the county's land base, and
WHEREAS, King County provides services that benefit these federal forest lands and surrounding rural communities, and
WHEREAS, King County is eligible for P.L. 106-393 funds based on its highest historical share of timber receipts on federal lands located within the county, and
WHEREAS, in federal fiscal year 2006 King County is expected to receive approximately $2,315,000 for P.L. 106-393 funds, and
WHEREAS, P.L. 106-393 funds are appropriated to King County for rural schools, improvements to county roads, search and rescue operations, protection and restoration of forest ecosystems, community service camps, easements for passive recreation, youth and community forestry programs, fire prevention and development mitigation planning, and
WHEREAS, P.L. 106-393 funds are a significant revenue source for the aforementioned rural projects and programs, and
WHEREAS, P.L. 106-393 funds are critical for the economic health of many counties in the states of Washington, Oregon and California, and
WHEREAS, P.L. 106-393 funding is set to expire at the conclusion of federal fiscal year 2006, and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress is currently considering H.R. 517 and S. 267, which would reauthorize P.L. 106-393 though 2013, and
WHEREAS, an appropriate funding source for reauthorization of P.L. 106-393 has not been identified, and
WHEREAS, identification of appropriate funding is necessary for reauthorization of federal mandatory spending programs such as P.L 106-393, and
WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties passed a resolution in support of the reauthorization and enhanced funding of P.L. 106-393, and
WHEREAS, the King County rural forest commission supports reauthorization and full funding of P.L. 106-393;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. King County hereby supports the reauthorization and full funding of the Secure Rural Schools and Self Determination Act of 2000, P.L. 106-393; and
B. King County hereby urges the United States Congress to reauthorize the act with an appropriate long-term funding source.