[env-trinity] PLT & Forest Safety Net

[Patrick & Kathy]

All, Please write and call your Federal Reps and Senators today. Thanks for hanging in there.


Kim K. Yamaguchi


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From: Yejin Jang [mailto:YJang at naco.org] 
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 5:44 AM
To: Yamaguchi, Kim
Subject: Senate to Vote on PILT and Forest County Safety Net Reauthorization 


Dear Supervisor, Chair Kim Yamaguchi, 


We have a once in a lifetime shot at full funding for PILT and reauthorization of the Forest County Safety Net (Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act or P.L. 106-393).


A coalition of Western Democratic Senators have announced agreement on the broad outline of a plan to reauthorize the Forest County Safety Net and to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for five years. 


For the first time since its 1994 reauthorization, PILT would be funded at its full authorized amount, beginning in FY 2008 and each year thereafter until FY 2011.


The Senators also propose a new Safety Net formula starting in FY 2007. The new formula would distribute funding based partially on counties' historic revenue sharing receipts (as did the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 which expired last September), and partially on counties percentage of total National Forest acreage. Additionally, it would include a "need factor" to steer some added dollars to more economically distressed counties. In FY 2008 counties would see a one percent decrease and then a ten percent reduction each year until the program sunsets (or is reauthorized) in FY 2011. The Senators estimate that most forest counties nationwide will see significant increases under the new formula, especially when considered with a fully funded PILT program.


Counties in Oregon, Washington and California, would however see significant decreases under the new formula. To soften that blow, the agreement calls for counties in the "Big Three" states to be held harmless in FY 2007 and then have their annual payments reduced by ten percent each year in FY 2008, 2009 and 2010 and then go to the new formula in 2011 (somewhat larger than ten percent reduction).


The compromise breaks the deadlock between the Senators from the West Coast states who had received the most money under the 1908 revenue sharing and therefore received the most under the six years of the Safety Net and Senators from the Interior West who argued that a new Safety Net formula was needed to garner the votes needed to pass such significant spending legislation in the Senate. 


The new package was negotiated and announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) along with their colleagues Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).


The Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Baucus, has jurisdiction over the offsets identified to pay for PILT and the new Safety Net.


The eight Senators have been engaging in active outreach to other Senators, including their Republican colleagues. While details are still being worked out, according to staff, initial reactions seem to be positive and progress is being made.


Senator Wyden plans to offer the package as an amendment to the Senate version of the FY 2007 Emergency Supplemental Appropriation which is scheduled to be debated and voted on by the full Senate the week of March 26.


The House passed its version of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriation on March 23, with a one year extension of the Safety Net included.




Take Action! A vote is possible as early as Tuesday or Wednesday! 


Pass this information to your school districts and the education community- Distribute the call to action as widely as possible within your state and county!


If your Senator is in the group of eight who negotiated the PILT/Forest County Safety Net package - THANK THEM for their hard work!


If your Senator is NOT in the group of eight - urge them to support the Wyden amendment to the Emergency Supplemental to fully fund PILT and reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. 


Call or email your Representatives by logging onto http://capwiz.com/naco/home. Please leave feedback of your call through our website. 


Paul V. Beddoe, Ph.D.

Associate Legislative Director

Western Interstate Region ~ Public Lands

National Association of Counties 

25 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Suite 500

Washington, DC 20001

(202) 942-4234 - voice

(202) 942-4281 - fax

(202) 550-8946 - mobile


NACo - The Voice of America's Counties

 
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