10/13/08 Rural school funding to continue

Idaho's rural counties get some money from the state and federal governments but they have to rely on education funding from local property taxes. Since more than 60 percent of Idaho's land base is owned or managed by the federal government those 33 million acres can't be taxed. That why Uncle Sam gave the counties payments based on timber that was harvested within their borders. That ground to a halt in the 90's when the timber industry harvests on public lands ended. That's when Idaho's Larry Craig and Oregon's Ron Wyden got legislation passed that restored annual payments to the counties. The legislation has just been extended as part of the massive economic rescue bill that became law ten days ago. JONES "It will serve 700 counties in 39 states." American Farm Bureau's Elizabeth Jones. The 3.3 billion dollars will also fund libraries and other services in rural counties. JONES "Some schools were looking at having to lay off teachers. Some counties were looking at having to lay off county employees so it's a very big help to those counties." Idaho rural schools got a 75 percent increase for a total of 120 million dollars over the next four years. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott