County and schools split funds

“That’s a benefit to everyone”

Gunnison County and the RE1J School District have come to an agreement about how to divide the federal Forest Service Reserve money that goes to compensate counties for timber harvested on federal land inside their boundaries.

After meetings two weeks ago between representatives of the county and the school district, the two sides settled on an agreement that would provide the school district with just the mandated 25 percent of nearly $1.3 million in Forest Service Reserve funds the first year, followed by 33 percent, 42 percent and 50 percent in subsequent years.
The remainder of the money will go to the county, which this year received just over $861,000. Fifteen percent of the total will be held in reserve by the county and federal governments.
The school board voted to accept the terms of the negotiations at a regular meeting on Monday, October 5, and the Board of County Commissioners followed suit at their regular meeting the following day.
A state law passed last year puts parameters on how the money can be distributed. House Bill 1250 mandates that half the money should be split evenly between county road and bridge projects and the school district, with the remaining half up for negotiation.
“The [school] board was very amicable throughout the negotiations,” county manager Matthew Birnie said. “They understand the value of good county roads to them and they have gotten a lot of support from the county and they appreciate the support they got on the bond issue.”
Birnie pointed out that prior to the passage of H.B. 1250, the school district only got 5 percent of the Forest Service Reserve money received by the county. Prior to 2008, the district never got more than $17,000. In 2009 they got around $70,000. The payment for 2010 will be more than $319,000.
The county’s portion of the money must be used on road and bridge projects, which can benefit both the county and the school district.
School superintendent Jon Nelson points to the improvements in safety that have come from the realignment of Ohio Creek Road where it intersects with Hwy. 135.
“I think it’s a good outcome because some of the things they were going to do with those dollars, like make repairs to roads, will be a benefit to us,” Nelson says. “With that money they’ll fix some roads and that makes it safer for buses. That’s a benefit to everyone.”
The school board has been discussing possible ways to use their portion of the money. School district business manager Stephanie Juneau says the purchase of curriculum-related materials, like math books, has already been included in the budget and they anticipate buying a new bus for the district’s fleet.
Nelson said future purchases would be discussed as Forest Service Reserve money becomes available and after the district-wide renovation projects—that are currently under way—are completed next year.
The school board has discussed improving the district’s phone system or investing further in teaching technology in the schools. Some of the money for those upgrades could be provided through surpluses in the renovation budgets, but only time will tell.
Nelson thought those decisions would have to wait until spring when the renovations are further along.
Gunnison County Director of Public Works Marlene Crosby, who will oversee the use of most of the Forest Service Reserve money, says she “always has a plan for money.”
“We’re going to use this as an opportunity to do some major improvements to county roads,” Crosby says. “Roads like Quartz Creek and Ohio Creek Road have been chip sealed and that holds the road together, but we would like to repave those. We don’t want to use this money for routine maintenance—we want to make major improvements.”
County finance manager Linda Nienheuser says the county has already received the Forest Service Reserve payment for the year and it will be part of the budget next year. Juneau said she expects to see the district’s portion of the money sometime in January.