Oct. 7, 2008 — Lassen County Schools will receive some financial help now that the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act has been reenacted with a four-year extension. On Friday, Oct. 3, President George W. Bush signed into law a measure to provide $1.645 billion for the secure rural schools funding.

With the reauthorization of the money, Lassen County will receive $4.01 million. Lassen County Superintendent of Schools Jud Jensen said half of the money received from rural school funding goes to the county transportation department and the other half goes to the schools.

The law was originally enacted in 2000 to provide federal payments for schools and roads to offset the loss of revenue due to the restriction of the development of national forests. It was given a one-year extension for the 2007-2008 school year, but the extension is now expired.

According to a press release from United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, 34 Lassen County schools will benefit from the law.

Jensen said each school receives a certain portion based on a formula, which takes into account how many students attend the school.

According to Lassen Union High School District Chief Business Officer Debbie Fry, the high school district receives $250,000 in rural school money.

Anticipating that the rural school funding would not be reenacted, the district did not include the money into the 2008-2009 budget.

Fry said the rural school money will help tremendously. She said the money will be treated as one-time money since it’s not a secure funding source. It will be used to help restore the district’s equipment and purchase supplies for the teachers that the district hasn’t been able to buy, Fry said.

Also included in the act is a tax extension provision of The Jobs, Energy, Families and Disaster Relief Act of 2008, which extends expiring tax programs and provides incentives for energy- related programs.

The Senate approved the bill in a 74-25 vote on Wednesday, Oct. 1 and the House of Representatives voted on Friday, Oct. 3.

Plumas County received $7.5 million, Modoc County received $3.45 million and Sierra County received $1.9 million.