The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is one way that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service provides benefits to communities in and around national forests, including the Mark Twain National Forest.
The program provides critical funding for schools, roads and other municipal services to more than 700 counties across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including 27 counties across Missouri, say Forest Service officials.
Locally, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties all received funding through SRS.
They explain the support comes from a portion of Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities such as grazing, timber production and special use permits, which are distributed back to the counties where the activities occur; and for Missouri, that translates to those that serve as the home of Mark Twain National Forest.
This year’s SRS payments, generated from 2023 funds, were distributed to states this month. Each county will decide how to use the payments, starting with what percentage they want for different categories, known as Title 1 for roads and schools, Title 2 for projects on federal lands, and Title 3 for county projects, officials explain.
Oregon County has received the largest amount out of the local counties, about $200,950, with Shannon County receiving the next highest, about $181,554. Texas County was given roughly $132,771; Howell County, $106,162; Douglas County, $105,932; Ozark County $88,537; and Wright County, $17177.
USDA Forest Service provides more information about the rules and applications of the program on its SRS webpage, www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools/categories.
