iation of Alaska School Bo

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The Honorable Ted Stevens April 29, 2008

U.S. Senate
522 Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(Sent via fax 202-224-2354)

Dear Senator Stevens,

With the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act set for June, we are
writing on behalf of many of our school districts to request extended funding for this important program. As you
know, the Tongass and Chugach National Forests occupy a vast majority of Southeast and Southcentral Alaska
and severely limit the amount of revenue that can generated locally to fund schools and other vital public services.
Congress recognized this disparity when it agreed to share federal timber receipts with affected local governments
and again in 2000 with enactment of the Secure Rural Schools law.

The commitment made by the federal government may seem relatively small -- $229 million spread across 42
states last year. But in Alaska, the loss of $9.4 million amongst 32 communities in the Tongass and Chugach
Forests will only aggravate the shortage of critical school operational funding in communities still struggling to
survive. We believe that in light of the establishment of modern federal land and resource policy that severely
altered the economy in Alaska’s forest communities, Congress is morally obligated to help mitigate the hardship
created therein threw the continuation of this program. Just as Congress established a revenue sharing mechanism
to justify federal management of western lands a century ago, so too should Congress today offset the economic
opportunity cost of the policies it establishes, thus better enabling communities adjacent to federally managed
lands to fund critical services such as schools.

Ideally, Congress would extend the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act permanently. AASB has endorsed
this approach. In the event that an extension is not possible this year, we request the House and Senate Appropria-
tions Committees to include an extension of funding in the forthcoming supplemental appropriations bill.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to continue this important source of funding for Alaska students
and their public school systems.

Sincerely,

Carl Rose Scott McAdams
Executive Director President

1111 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801

☎ (907) 586-1083 e (907) 586-2995 j aasb@aasb.org L http://www.aasb.org