Seven Louisiana parishes with lands comprising the Kisatchie National Forest will receive a total of $3,643,760.96 in payments from USDA for investment in school and road improvements, and to invest in strengthening forest stewardship programs.

In an announcement on December 13, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the release of more than $384 million to over 700 counties in 41 states and Puerto Rico.

Louisiana parishes, and their share of the USDA National Forest funds, are:
Claiborne, $120,648.
Grant, $862,772.
Natchitoches, $783,150.
Rapides, $616,309.
Vernon, $515,718.
Webster, $74,152.
Winn, $671,011.
Secretary Veneman said, "Investing in schools and education, particularly in our rural communities, is a high priority for this Administration. These funds will allow local communities valuable resources so they can determine their needs and make the proper investments to help our children and strengthen rural areas."

The funding program was authorized as part of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Over the next six years, USDA through the Forest Service will provide another $1.1 billion for schools and communities, in addition to the $384 million released in December. These payments are the first under the new legislation, which returns dollars to states with national forests

Veneman said, "States and local communities will make the decision on how the dollars will be spent. For example, they can buy new books, repair or expand schools or hire more teachers to help improve education opportunities for the nation's children."

Based on legislation passed in 1908, 25 percent of Forest Service revenues from timber sales, grazing, recreation, some mineral use fees, and other land use receipts go to states that host national forests, which are exempted from payment of local property taxes.

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Act of 2000 gave counties the option of staying with the traditional payment plan, or choosing a predictable payment based on the average of the state's three highest payments between fiscal years 1986 and 1999.

Nationwide, counties have seen a significant drop in payments over the last decade under the traditional plan due to significant decline in timber harvesting on national forests. The 2000 legislation stabilities payment levels to hear their historic highs for six years. About 75 percent of the 700-plus counties, including all seven eligible Louisiana parishes, elected to use the new formula, thus receiving increased federal funding.

In addition, the new legislation authorizes local resource advisory committees to give communities choice in funding forestry stewardship projects. To date, 49 resource advisory committees have been established. All Louisiana parishes elected to allocate 15 percent of their funding to county projects which do not require resource advisory committees. Therefore, no resource advisory committee is planned for Louisiana at this time.

Counties/parishes that receive more than $100,000 under the new legislation are required to allocate 15 to 20 percent of their funding for investments in county projects or for forest projects that implement stewardship objectives or enhance forest ecosystems or both.

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