FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baker County Commissioners Applaud Passage of Senate Bill 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act
Reauthorization Expected to Provide More Than Half a Million Dollars Annually to Support Roads, Schools, Public Safety, and Community Services
Baker City, OR — The Baker County Board of Commissioners welcomes the passage of Senate Bill 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act, restoring critical federal support to timber-dependent counties across the United States. For Baker County, the SRS reauthorization is expected to provide more than $500,000 annually in dependable funding for transportation infrastructure, school support, wildfire protection, and essential public safety services.
The Baker County Board of Commissioners expressed gratitude to Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley, D-OR, for their role in advocating for the passage of the bill.
“The passage of SRS reauthorization is a major win for Baker County,” said Shane Alderson, Baker County Commission Chair. “These funds help keep our roads safe, our schools supported, and our emergency services operating at the level our residents deserve. This reauthorization provides the stability rural communities like ours depend on.”
Commissioner Christina Witham added, “Without our historic timber receipts, SRS is essential for rural counties surrounded by federal forestland. I would rather see timber sales and have our county reap the benefits of a healthy forest but until we can get back to that level of self-sustainability, these dollars support day-to-day services that people rely on — from road maintenance to wildfire response. We are grateful to Oregon’s congressional delegation for recognizing how vital this funding is to Baker County.”
Commissioner Kaseberg noted, “This reauthorization reflects years of advocacy by rural counties. SRS funding allows Baker County to continue investing in critical infrastructure, protect our communities during wildfire season, and support our schools without shifting additional costs to local taxpayers.”
SRS funding compensates rural counties with extensive federal forestlands — lands on which counties cannot levy property taxes. Prior to 1990, Baker County relied on taxes from timber sales to provide services to support transportation infrastructure, school support, wildfire protection, and public safety within the county. When timber sales dried up after the introduction of court injunctions protecting the Northern Spotted Owl in Eastern Oregon, so did those crucial tax revenues. SRS funding was introduced in 2000 to replace the lost revenues but expired at the end of fiscal year 2023. Without SRS, Baker County has been forced to rely on the much lower U.S. Forest Reserve 25% payment formula. Based on recent estimates comparing the two systems, Baker County would have received an estimated $110,000 in road funding in 2026 under the 25% formula. Under a fully funded SRS distribution, Baker County may instead receive upwards of $500,000.00.
The Baker County Commissioners have played an active role in supporting the continuation of SRS funding. Over the past year, the Board has participated in national and statewide advocacy efforts, including direct engagement with Oregon’s congressional delegation, providing testimony to federal stakeholders, and working through county associations to ensure that rural voices were clearly heard in Washington, D.C. Commissioners emphasized the importance of predictable funding to maintain safe county roads, support local schools, and preserve essential rural services.
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