DETCOG hears update on reinstating lost U.S. forest money

DETCOG Board Member, and Houston County Judge Lonnie Hunt updated the DETCOG Board on the status of a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act (SRSCA) at its monthly meeting in Crockett.

Money provided by SRSCA compensates school districts and counties for the lost ad valorem taxes on U.S. Forest land in their jurisdictions. It was not renewed before the current budget year, resulting in the loss of five million federal dollars to Deep East Texas counties and schools.

"There was an attempt to get the reauthorization of SRSCA included in the recent Economic Stimulus Package, but House Leadership and the Administration agreed early on that items in that legislation would be short-term in nature," said Judge Hunt, "that precluded this multiyear funding being included." Hunt urged everyone in attendance to contact their congressmen and senators in support inclusion of SRSCA in the upcoming Iraq Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.

Acting on the recommendation of its Grants Application Review Committee, the DETCOG Board gave favorable recommendations to grant applications from Tri-County Community Action, Inc. and East Texas Community Health Services, Inc. for grants totaling over five million dollars.

Tri-County Community Action proposes using two million eight hundred fifty eight thousand dollars for its Project Head Start programs in Angelina, Jasper, Newton, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby and Tyler Counties. East Texas Community Health Services proposes using two million three hundred nine dollars to expand its mental health/substance abuse services, offer medical and dental services and expand its oral health services. The grants will now go to state and federal government agencies for funding consideration.

The DETCOG Board heard an update regarding the Residential Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee Meeting in Austin. Executive Director, Walter Diggles, also reported on a briefing set up by Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Kevin Brady regarding Hurricane Rita funding by the state.