Across the West, counties surrounded by federally managed forests have long supported responsible timber harvests, not just to power rural economies, but to fund essential public services like schools, roads, and law enforcement.
For generations, these communities received a share of federal timber revenues as compensation for the fact that they cannot collect property taxes on federal lands. But over time, timber harvests have declined sharply, and so have the revenues that counties rely on.
To fill the gap, Congress created the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which for more than two decades provided temporary relief for timber counties. But SRS is not a permanent solution. It must be reauthorized by Congress every few years. In 2023, Congress failed to do so.
As a result, counties reverted to receiving only the timber revenue payments they are guaranteed under federal law: 25 percent of the seven-year average of receipts from federal timber sales in their area. These payments are now a fraction of what they once were, leaving counties in a funding crisis.
It’s a reminder that timber counties cannot rely on stopgap measures alone. They need meaningful, long-term solutions. That starts with restoring active forest management to federal lands.
Increasing responsible timber harvests would not only provide a more stable funding source for rural counties and schools but would also reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and support thousands of family-wage jobs in timber communities. Restoring the health of our forests means putting people to work and putting rural governments on stronger financial footing.
Yet recent policy decisions risk making this situation even worse. The Reconciliation Bill recently passed by Congress includes language requiring the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to establish long-term timber contracts, at least 40 contracts of 20 years or more.
While long-term contracts can help build certainty for industry, the bill includes a provision mandating that all timber revenues from these contracts be diverted to the U.S. Treasury, instead of being shared with counties as federal law has required for more than a century.
That’s a serious concern for counties that have already lost too much. These communities deserve a fair share of the value generated from the forests they steward and depend on. It is a mistake to break the historic link between timber receipts and county budgets, a link that has funded classrooms, maintained roads, and kept sheriff’s deputies on patrol.
Timber communities are proud of their forests. They don’t want handouts, they want partnerships. They want to actively manage forests to create healthier landscapes, protect against wildfire, and build a more sustainable future. But to do that, we must return to policies that reward stewardship and respect the people who call these places home.
It’s time to reinvest in rural America by restoring active forest management and restoring the promise that counties will share in the benefits of the land that surrounds them.
