Forest Service Receipt - Sharing Payments: Proposals for Change


 

Publication Date: April 2000

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Environment

Type:

Abstract:

In lieu of property taxes, the Forest Service generally shares 25% of receipts from the sale, lease, rental, or other use of the national forests to the states for use on roads and schools in the counties where the national forests are located. Some interests are concerned about the equity and stability of the payments, especially with the decline in timber sales over the past decade, and about the incentives of the current system. Bills have been introduced to modify the current system; one passed the House in 1999, and another has been ordered reported by the Senate Energy Committee. This report will be updated to reflect legislative action.