County to get $1.8 million for forest lands

Flathead County is expected to receive about $1.8 million for schools, roads and forest projects this year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Since 1908, the Forest Service has shared 25 percent of its gross receipts from timber sales and grazing, minerals, recreation or other land-use fees to benefit public schools and roads in counties where national forests are located.

Payments to counties dropped significantly in the 1980s as timber harvesting declined. In 2000, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act to provide enhanced and stabilized payments through 2006. The act was extended for one year, reauthorized for four more years, and reauthorized again for a year.

Montana will receive $19.7 million of the $291 million distributed across the U.S., putting it in fourth place. The top three states were California, Idaho and Washington.

Counties can use the money for public schools and roads as well as projects that promote forest health or wildfire prevention and reimbursements for emergency services on national forests.

Flathead County’s projected payment for 2012 is about 8 percent less than what it received for 2011 and about 22 percent less than what it received for 2008. Lincoln County is expected to receive $4.7 million, the same as in 2011 and about 33 percent less than what it received for 2008.