The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 110-343, October 3, 2008) is the legal name for “safety net funding”. There are three main parts to the law, Title I, Title II, and Title III.
Title I funds are directed at K-12 school systems and counties across 41 states. In Oregon, the dollars dedicated to K-12 are applied across all school districts and are part of the state funding distribution formula. The portion of Title I sent to counties is distributed based on a formula that involves the amount of federally owned land, previous payments, per capita income, and other factors. This is the funding stream that provides Douglas County with most of our discretionary general fund and public works funding.
Title II funds go to Forest Service and BLM regions, and are used to fund the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) functions. The RAC programs focus on making additional investments in, and creating employment opportunities through projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and improve land health and water quality.
Title III funds go to counties, and are used to carry out activities under the Firewise Communities program, to reimburse the county for search and rescue and other emergency services, and to develop community wildfire protection plans.
Douglas County distributes Title III funds through a grant application process. Almost $1.8 million was awarded to fund: search and rescue training, equipment and services; inmate crews to clear brush and create fire defensible space around dwellings; Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) youth crews; enhancements to DFPA’s fire detection system; development and deployment of educational materials on creating fire defensible space for residential landowners; continuing development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans; and enhancements to the fire and disaster warning system.
Previous iterations of Title III continue to support: forest restoration and education programs at Phoenix School; the Hinkle Creek Paired Watershed Study; and efforts to educate about issues on federally owned lands.
All of these activities enhance our safety, quality of life, and understanding of forestland ecosystems.
Susan always welcomes your questions or comments. Please contact her by email at morgan@co.douglas.or.us; by mail at Douglas County Courthouse, Room 217, 1036 SE Douglas, Roseburg, 97470; or by phone at 440-4201