RURAL SCHOOL FUNDING DRYING UP

(12/29/2006)

Rural schools will experience a funding blow in 2007 as a federal funding source will dry up. The money stream known as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 expires December 31st. The fund provided more than two billion dollars for improvements to public schools, roads and stewardship projects in 41 states and Puerto Rico over the past six years. A final disbursement of $385 million dollars will be made nationwide, with WV getting two million of the allotted dollars. US Agriculture Under Secretary Mark Ray says the legislation was written in 2000, in a time of budget surplus. Now, with the largest budget deficits ever recorded and costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the nation's pocketbook is strapped for domestic projects. Despite the movement toward urban areas, over 40% of the nation's school children are still being taught in rural areas.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001