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HomeMy WebLinkAbout100713_ca02Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 1 of 2 Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Agenda Request To: Board of Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator From: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director /County Engineer Agenda Date: October 7, 2013 Subject: Resolution to Receive National Forest Related Safety -Net Payments under the "Secure Rural Schools" Program Statement of Issue: The Board is requested to approve the accompanying resolution to accept full payment from the federal government for federal FY2013 in the event that Congress reauthorizes a one -year extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self - Determination Act of 2000. The intent of this program is to provide offsetting funds to replace county roads and public schools revenue originally derived from timber harvest on federal land in the county, which diminished substantially in the 1990's. Analysis /Strategic Goals /Pro's 8 Con's: As in previous years, the resolution elects to receive the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payment in lieu of the County's share of forest receipts. This will benefit the County since the County's share of forest receipts is projected to be less than 20% of what the SRS payment amount could be in FY2013. The resolution also establishes the payment distribution for federal FY2013 by apportioning 85% to the Title I program (county roads and public schools); 13% to the Title 11 program (special projects and programs benefiting federal lands as allocated through the Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee); and 2% to the Title III program for County search and rescue operations on national forest lands. This is the same distribution as in previous years. Department of Public Works O Consent Agenda Page 2 of 2 Fiscal Impact /Cost Benefit Analysis: Annual payments under this program have declined dramatically in recent years as shown in the table below. No offsetting funds replace the loss of the SRS funds in the County Roads budget. Therefore, road maintenance/ preservation work has been reduced and construction project delivery has been decreased. Currently, no SRS payments are scheduled for FY2013. This resolution has been requested of all counties in the event funds are authorized by Congress. Recommendation: The Board is requested to approve the accompanying resolution to distribute the "Secure Rural Schools" funding among the Title I, Title II, and Title III programs for federal FY2013 if they become available. A copy of the resolution will be provided to the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) for transmittal to the Governor's office. Department Contact: Monte Reinders, P.E., Public Works Director /County Engineer, 385 -9242 Reviewed By: `Philip Morle , o my Administrator Date FY2006" FY2012 County Roads $1,418,695 $404,532 Schools $1,418,695 $404,532. Title II and Title III $500,716 $142,776 Total $3,338,106 $951,840 `FY2006 was the lost year of full funding and was similar to prior years. No offsetting funds replace the loss of the SRS funds in the County Roads budget. Therefore, road maintenance/ preservation work has been reduced and construction project delivery has been decreased. Currently, no SRS payments are scheduled for FY2013. This resolution has been requested of all counties in the event funds are authorized by Congress. Recommendation: The Board is requested to approve the accompanying resolution to distribute the "Secure Rural Schools" funding among the Title I, Title II, and Title III programs for federal FY2013 if they become available. A copy of the resolution will be provided to the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) for transmittal to the Governor's office. Department Contact: Monte Reinders, P.E., Public Works Director /County Engineer, 385 -9242 Reviewed By: `Philip Morle , o my Administrator Date STATE OF WASHINGTON County of Jefferson In the Matter of the Election to Receive } National Forest Related Safety -Net Payments } RESOLUTION NO. WHEREAS, Congress enacted in 1908 and subsequently amended a law that requires that twenty -five percent (25 %) of the revenues derived from the 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 county roads; and WHEREAS, the volume of timber sold annually from most National Forest lands has declined precipitously with a corresponding precipitous decline in revenues shared with counties; and WHEREAS, the United States Congress recognized a need to stabilize education and county road funding through predictable payments to the affected counties, create jobs in those counties, and create other opportunities associated with restoration, maintenance and stewardship for Federal lands, and to achieve those goals enacted the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self - Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note; Public Law 106 -393) in 2000; and WHEREAS, the law gives each eligible county the right to elect to receive either its traditional share of revenues in the amount of 25% of actual receipts from the National Forest lands pursuant to the Act of May 23, 1908 and Section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911, or instead to receive a guaranteed minimum amount also known as the "full SRS payment amount "; and WHEREAS, Jefferson County is projected to benefit by electing to receive its full SRS payment rather than electing to receive its traditional share of National Forest revenues; and WHEREAS, the law requires that the County allocate from fifteen to twenty percent (15% to 20 %) of the full payment amount to Title II (Resource Advisory Council approved projects) and Title III (specific County approved projects) with no more than seven percent (7 %) allocated to Title III and with notification to the Governor's office of said election; and WHEREAS, the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) has been designated by the Governor's office to collect and compile said elections by all affected counties for transmittal; and WHEREAS, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000 (or "SRS" Act) has not been reauthorized for federal fiscal year FY2013, but counties have been requested to enact resolutions allocating funds to Title II and Title III in the event reauthorization occurs; Resolution No. re: Election to Receive National Forest Related Safety -Net Payments NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby elects to receive the full SRS payment amount in lieu of 25% of actual forest receipts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Jefferson County hereby allocates eighty -five percent (85 %) of its full payment amount for expenditure under Title I (county roads and public schools); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Jefferson County hereby allocates thirteen percent (13 %) of its full payment amount for expenditure under Title II and two percent (2 %) of its full payment amount for expenditure under Title III to reimburse the County for search and rescue operations performed on national forests; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Jefferson County Sheriff shall certify the use of Title III funds used for search and rescue operations as required in the law; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the Washington State Association of Counties immediately for transmittal to the Forest Service via the Governor's office. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this SEAL: ATTEST: Carolyn Avery Deputy Clerk of the Board Page 2 day of 2013. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS John Austin, Chairman Phil Johnson, Member David Sullivan, Member