September 26th, 2011
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September 30, 2011 is the deadline for Resource Advisory Committees to complete their recommendations on proposed projects that would use Title II funds to improve National Forest resources.
The Secure Rural Schools law included this deadline as part of the reauthorization in the fall of 2008. RACs will continue to have the authority to meet to monitor the implementation of the projects that use Title II funds.
September 30, 2011 is also the deadline for counties and states to submit their allocations between Titles II and III for the upcoming payment.
Ever wonder how much Title II funding has come to Idaho over the years? The chart below shows how much money has been allocated to each RAC in Idaho since the RACs were established in late 2001.
Over the years the payent formula under PL 106-393 and the decisions of the county officials provided for steady payments and a fairly reliable financial base for RACs to use for making project recommendations. The only bigg change in those years was 2001 to 2002 when additional funds were made available to the Idaho Panhandle RAC after the Shoshone County Commissioners increased their allocation to Title II.
Following the enactment of PL 110-343 the payment to Idaho jumped considerably with substantial benefits to the North Central Idaho RAC, the Central Idaho RAC, and the Eastern Idaho RAC. The Southwest Idaho RAC and Panhandle RAC continued to receive a similar amount of funds. The South Central RAC was appointed as funds became available for that committee to operate.
While Title II funds ballooned to more than $6 million statewide following FY 2008, the most recent payment has dropped by a million dollars in in large part to the total payments coming to Idaho counties dropping ten percent or about $5 million, from roughly $44 million to $39 million. The next two years of payments are scheduled to also drop ten percent per year.
