Idaho will get a $26.6 million infusion from the federal government this month. That comes from the one year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act. That law gives money to states for roads and schools in counties that have lost money due to declines in the timber industry.
The 2000 law expired early last year and congress didn't renew it until July. That delayed payments to many areas that rely on the money for school budgets.
This month’s payment is the first in a two part distribution to total more than $323 million. Idaho’s $26.6 million is the third largest in this round after California and Oregon.
Below are the fiscal year 2012 amounts being distributed this month.
Alabama $1,844,203
Alaska $13,878,341
Arizona $13,080,451
Arkansas $6,653,117
California $35,777,071
Colorado $13,053,100
Florida $2,340,725
Georgia $1,549,619
Idaho $26,628,284
Illinois $253,892
Indiana $269,003
Kentucky $1,586,483
Louisiana $1,734,539
Maine $71,536
Michigan $3,825,966
Minnesota $8,477,537
Mississippi $5,552,034
Missouri $3,352,723
Montana $19,746,884
Nebraska $196,821
Nevada $3,630,272
New Hampshire $546,736
New Mexico $10,264,288
New York $18,825
North Carolina $1,902,474
North Dakota $630
Ohio $268,359
Oklahoma $916,663
Oregon $63,015,475
Pennsylvania $3,330,641
Puerto Rico $147,252
South Carolina $1,772,284
South Dakota $1,600,459
Tennessee $1,149,582
Texas $2,331,150
Utah $10,579,829
Vermont $334,066
Virginia $1,625,153
Washington $20,094,767
West Virginia $1,788,593
Wisconsin $1,903,001
Wyoming $4,309,863
Total $291,402,691