May 9. 2022 3:00 a.m. 

On Friday, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that Oregon counties will receive more than $82 million in payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation.

Douglas County will receive nearly $15.5 million. That includes approximately $7.1 million from the O&C portion of the act, which was already announced.

Wyden said, “For the better part of two decades, SRS payments have maintained an economic lifeline for Oregonians counting on quality schools, dependable infrastructure forest maintenance and more”. Wyden co-authored the original SRS law in 2000, and secured three additional years of funding for the SRS program in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Merkley said, “Secure Rural School payments are crucial investments into our rural communities and help to provide vital services, ranging from schools to infrastructure to public safety”. Merkley said, “We must continue to support our rural communities – and its great news that these funds are heading to Oregon counties and rural communities to help tackle the ongoing threat of wildfires and promote economic growth in every corner of the state”.

The release from the Senators said the SRS program provides critical funding for schools, roads, and other municipal services to more than seven hundred counties across the nation. A portion of the United State Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities, such as grazing, timber production, and special use permits support rural counties impacted by federal forestland to improve the health of communities, and can include improving schools and roads, preventing wildfire, stream and watershed restoration, improvement of fish and wildlife habitat and opportunities for youth training and employment.