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Committee hears effects of lapsed Secure Rural Schools funding and discusses North Rim restoration efforts
Summary
County officials told the committee SRS reauthorization lapsed, reducing payments to a fraction of prior levels; members discussed federal advocacy options and recent local resolutions supporting rebuilding the North Rim and legislation to speed contracting.
Committee members described immediate budget effects after Secure Rural Schools (SRS) reauthorization lapsed and the program reverted to an older, smaller formula. "We usually get... about $100,000," one member said, adding that "the total was around $11,000" this year, a reduction attendees called "devastating for the budget across the board." Members said the county has been attending federal meetings and is hopeful SRS funding may be restored in forthcoming Department of Agriculture appropriations but emphasized uncertainty.
Celeste Malloy told the committee she has taken local resolutions to state-level and federal contacts, including the Constitutional Defense Council, and described a multi-pronged approach: private advocacy in Washington, engagement with Utah’s delegation and use of special task forces to brief senators' offices. Malloy noted a local bipartisan proposal called the "Fix Our Forests Act" (FOLFA) is gaining traction and could align with county objectives for forest management and timber programs.
Members linked SRS impacts to the North Rim conversation: rebuilding the North Rim lodge and infrastructure could support year-round visitation and local economies but requires federal action and contracting changes. Representative Eli Crane of Arizona was noted by a participant as having introduced a "North Rim Restoration Act of 2025" that would streamline contracting to speed reconstruction if passed.
The committee did not vote on SRS policy at this meeting. Members offered to continue outreach to congressional staff and federal agencies to pursue reauthorization or inclusion of SRS in larger agriculture funding bills.
