Federal budget cuts have eliminated a century-old program that provided critical funding to California's rural counties, leaving local officials scrambling to maintain essential services. The Secure Rural Schools Act, which would have delivered at least $33 million to California counties with federal lands, was not included in the latest congressional budget.
The program compensated counties for tax revenue they cannot collect on federally-owned land, supporting schools, road maintenance, emergency services, and wildfire safety initiatives. Last year, it distributed $253 million nationwide.
"This loss is nothing short of catastrophic," said Liam Gogan, head of the Trinity County Board of Supervisors. "Our schools will suffer irreversible damage, emergency response will be paralyzed, and our economy — already fragile — will be pushed past the point of recovery."
The funding impact varies by county based on U.S. Forest Service acreage. Siskiyou County received $4.3 million in 2023, Trinity County $3.5 million, and Los Angeles County $1.4 million. Counties typically split these funds equally between schools and public works.
School districts now face staff layoffs, cuts to after-school programs, fewer field trips, and delayed building repairs. Road maintenance will slow significantly, potentially affecting emergency response times and resident access in remote areas.
In Trinity County, crews responsible for maintaining 620 miles of roads — including 120 miles of gravel roads — will be reduced. "People potentially could get stranded, or fire and emergency crews won't be able to get through," warned Panos Kokkas, the county's transportation director.
The situation is particularly dire in Alpine County, where 96% of land is state and federally owned. The program provided about 20% of their road repair budget and substantial school funding. With limited options for raising alternative revenue, rural counties face difficult choices ahead.
While the Act passed unanimously in the Senate, it never received a House hearing and was excluded from recent budgets. The final payments to counties will be distributed in April, leaving local officials concerned about maintaining basic services in their communities.