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O Consent Agenda
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Jefferson County
Board of Commissioners
Agenda Request
To: Board of Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
From: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director /County Engineer G�
Agenda Date: May 26, 2015
Subject: Letters Expressing Appreciation for Supporting the Reauthorization
of Secure Rural Schools and Self- Determination Act (SRS)
Statement of Issue: On January 20, 2015 the Board signed letters requesting each of
Jefferson County's Members of Congress support reauthorization of the Secure Rural
Schools and Self - Determination Act (SRS). In April, Congress reauthorized SRS for two
years as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
Analysis /Strategic Goals /Pro's ft Con's: Due to declining timber harvests on federal
lands, Congress passed the SRS in 2000 to provide consistent funding for rural schools
and rural roads. The SRS provided approximately $1.3 million annually for Jefferson
County roads, which represented about 25% of the roads operating budget; however,
after 2008 the payments from this program declined to only $420,000.
In April, Congress reauthorized SRS for two years at the reduced funding rate. In the
letters, the County expresses appreciation to the Members of Congress for their support
for extending SRS and acknowledges the need to continue working toward a long -term,
sustainable funding source for timber counties in the years to come.
Fiscal Impact /Cost Benefit Analysis: SRS funding is critical to complete needed
improvements and repairs on County roads.
Recommendation: Please sign and mail the attached letters to Senator Patty Murray,
Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representative Derek Kilmer. Return a copy of each signed
letter to Public Works (Attn: Zoe Ann Lamp).
Department Contact: Zoe Ann Lamp, Transportation Planner, (360)385 -9162
Reviewed By;,
Philip Morley, Cou ty AdmWstrator Date
Jefferson
Townsend,
May 26, 2015
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
United States Senate
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Cantwell,
We are writing to express our sincere appreciation for your support of the Secure Rural Schools and
Self- Determination Act (SRS) extension that Congress recently passed as part of the Medicare Access
and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
As you know, timber counties such as ours have been seriously impacted by the severe reduction in
harvests on federal land. The SRS program has been vital to offset the loss of revenues for local
governments. Historically, SRS annual payments were akin to what the county receives in motor
vehicle fuel tax allocations each year. In fact, the SRS payment represented about 25% of the
Department of Public Works' regular operating budget for roads. Even with the cutbacks in the program
in recent years, the reduced funding we receive is still essential to our ability to maintain our roads and
keep our citizens safe. The extension of the SRS program that you helped secure will be vital to
Jefferson County's ability to provide these basic services to our constituents.
We thank you for recognizing the important commitment Congress made to timber counties and
advocating for an extension of SRS. Given the unstable nature of the program and your important role
as Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, we look forward to
working with you on a long -term, sustainable funding source for timber counties in the years to come.
Your support and the work of your staff on this and other matters of importance to Jefferson County are
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
David Sullivan, Chair Phil Johnson, Member Kathleen Kier, Member
Phone (360) 385 -9100 Fax (360) 385 -9382 jeffbocc(&co.jefferson.wa.us
Jefferson
Townsend,
May 26, 2015
The Honorable Derek Kilmer
U.S. House of Representatives
1520 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Kilmer,
We are writing to express our sincere appreciation for your leadership in getting the Secure Rural
Schools and Self- Determination Act (SRS) extended for an additional two years. We applaud your
dedication and work on this critically important issue.
As you know, timber counties such as ours have been seriously impacted by the severe reduction in
harvests on federal land. The SRS program has been vital to offset the loss of revenues for local
governments. Historically, SRS annual payments were akin to what the county receives in motor
vehicle fuel tax allocations each year. In fact, the SRS payment represented about 25% of the
Department of Public Works' regular operating budget for roads. Even with the cutbacks in the program
in recent years, the reduced funding we receive is still essential to our ability to maintain our roads and
keep our citizens safe. The extension of the SRS program that you helped secure will be vital to
Jefferson County's ability to provide these basic services to our constituents.
We thank you for recognizing the important commitment Congress made to timber counties and
fighting for an extension of SRS. Given the unstable nature of the program, we also look forward to
working with you on a long -term, sustainable funding source for timber counties in the years to come.
Your support and the work of your staff on this and other matters of importance to Jefferson County are
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
David Sullivan, Chair Phil Johnson, Member Kathleen Kier, Member
Phone (360) 385 -9100 Fax (360) 385 -9382 jeffbocc(aco.jefferson.wa.us
Jefferson
Townsend,
May 26, 2015
The Honorable Patty Murray
United States Senate
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Murray,
We are writing to express our sincere appreciation for your support of the Secure Rural Schools and
Self- Determination Act (SRS) extension that Congress recently passed as part of the Medicare Access
and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
As you know, timber counties such as ours have been seriously impacted by the severe reduction in
harvests on federal land. The SRS program has been vital to offset the loss of revenues for local
governments. Historically, SRS annual payments were akin to what the county receives in motor
vehicle fuel tax allocations each year. In fact, the SRS payment represented about 25% of the
Department of Public Works' regular operating budget for roads. Even with the cutbacks in the program
in recent years, the reduced funding we receive is still essential to our ability to maintain our roads and
keep our citizens safe. The extension of the SRS program that you helped secure will be vital to
Jefferson County's ability to provide these basic services to our constituents.
We thank you for recognizing the important commitment Congress made to timber counties and
advocating for an extension of SRS. Given the unstable nature of the program, we look forward to
working with you on a long -term, sustainable funding source for timber counties in the years to come.
Your support and the work of your staff on this and other matters of importance to Jefferson County are
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
David Sullivan, Chair Phil Johnson, Member Kathleen Kler, Member
Phone (360) 385 -9100 Fax (360) 385 -9382 jeffboccraco.jefferson.wa.us