Commissioners keep Secure Rural Schools allocation split that favors Title 1 and county projects

Christina, the county finance director, told commissioners they must select how forest-receipt payments are allocated and presented two options: a 19/08 rolling-average calculation and the SRS allocation split. "The 19/08 rolling average would be about $51,000 a year to the county versus the SRS allocation, which is about $1,100,000 to the county," Christina said.

A commissioner moved to approve the current SRS allocation (85% to Title 1, 8% to Title 2, 7% to Title 3). The board approved the motion by voice vote during the work session. Commissioners discussed that Title 3 (7%) is earmarked for emergency response/use on public lands and noted that moving funds between titles would not increase the county's share beyond the configured maximum. Staff said the allocation paperwork must be sent to the state today to meet filing deadlines, and that the current configuration maximizes county benefit under the SRS split.