Secure Rural Schools - Categories Title I-III

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@9 An official website of the United States government Here's how you know U S DA , ', Forest Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Home Working with Us Secure Rural Schools Program Secure Rural Schools -Categories Secure Rural Schools - Categories The Secure Rural Schools Act breaks payments into three distinct categories, or Titles: • Title I for roads and schools • Title II for projects on Federal lands • Title III for county projects. Below is an explanation of each: Title I - Roads & Schools Counties generally receive the majority of Secure Rural Schools funds under Title I, which is designated for the benefit of public schools and public roads. In years when the Secure Rural Schools Act is reauthorized by Congress, Title I payments are made from the USDA Forest Service to states. States then distribute the payment to all eligible counties. The funds must be passed through to local governmental entities for use at the county level (but not necessarily to county governments themselves). Each state must spend the funds on road and school programs, and state law sets forth how the payments are to be allocated between road and school projects. The state laws differ widely, generally ranging from 30% to 100% for school programs. Title II - Special Projects on Federal Lands Counties typically receive 20% or less of Secure Rural Schools funds under Title II, which are used by willing Federal agencies, State and local governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and other natural resource objectives on Federal land and on non -Federal land where projects would benefit these resources on Federal land. Rather than being distributed to the State, Title II funds are retained by the Forest Service and are allocated to specific projects that have been reviewed and recommended by a local Resource Advisory Committee.