Commissioner of Public Lands Urges Federal Support for State’s Rural Schools

Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz is urging Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program before they adjourn for the holidays, stating the funds are vital to many school districts in the state.

The SRS program provides assistance to school districts and rural counties affected by the decrease in revenue from timber harvests on federal land. That includes Lewis County, which has received millions of dollars through the program over the years. 

Franz wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that outlined the needs for the reauthorization of the program she called critical. SRS provides funds to 215 school districts in the state.

“I have seen the schools that need repairs, new roofs and more classrooms for our kids,” Franz said in a press release. “These needs exist right now and disproportionately affect schools and counties in rural areas.”

She added that as commissioner of public lands, she knows how important forest resources are for timber communities.

“This year, more than $142 million in revenue from state lands will fund school construction, libraries, and emergency services,” she said. 

“But we need help from our federal partners. By reauthorizing the SRS program, we will provide essential funding to rural communities and invest in our children.”

Franz has spoken about the role public lands must play in order to support schools and local economies. 

In June, she announced the Rural Communities Partnership Initiative, which invests in local economic development across Washington.

The commissioner of public lands oversees the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and natural resource management on 5.6 million acres of land, which includes 3 million acres of state trust lands.

A fully copy of her letter can be found online at dnr.wa.gov.