On Tuesday, April 1, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved a letter to Sen. John Hickenlooper encouraging him to co-sponsor S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act of 2025.
The letter was approved as part of the meeting’s consent agenda.
Earlier in the day, Commissioner Warren Brown explained that SRS monies come from federal lands that the county cannot collect taxes on.
According to the letter, the current SRS is expired and, as of Jan. 21, “forest counties will not receive critical SRS payments in spring.”
The letter also notes the last time SRS lapsed in 2016, federal forest payments to counties decreased by more than 80 percent on average.
For context, the letter indicates that SRS payments to Routt County school districts in 2024 totaled approximately $101,180.
Brown also explained that the SRS is tied to the payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) program, indicating that Archuleta County typically receives approximately $670,000 annually from SRS payments and has historically been able to allocate all of those monies to the school district.
He also explained there is a component within the SRS that would allow for up to 25 percent of those monies to be spent on roads or “other specific” projects in the county.
Brown went on to mention that Hickenlooper has not yet signed on to the SRS Reauthorization Act, but indicated that he “is very supportive.”
Brown explained that he brought the matter to the BoCC to ask if the board wanted to send its own letter, sign on to a letter from the Colorado Counties Inc. or do both.
Brown commented, “I couldn’t imagine why you wouldn’t,” support the SRS.
Commissioners Veronica Medina and John Ranson indicated they would like to do both.
“I appreciate you doing this,” Ranson said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
