Advisory Committees

National Program   Contact   Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act

Understanding the Program

The Secure Rural Schools program provides critical funding for schools, roads, and other municipal services to more than 700 counties across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 

The Forest Service was established in 1905 with 56 million acres of land. By 1910, the amount of National Forest System land tripled to 172 million acres. Today, the agency manages approximately 196 million acres. Congress ratified the Act of May 23, 1908, as a measure to support rural counties whose tax base was limited by the growing amount of Federal land. A portion of Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities, such as grazing, timber production, and special use permits, are distributed to eligible counties to help maintain local roads and schools.

By the year 2000, after decades of declining agency revenues, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act to help stabilize the funds available to rural counties.

Payments are divided into three distinct categories or Titles: Title I for roads and schools, Title II for projects on Federal lands, and Title III for county projects. 

The Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee

Congress passed legislation to restore stability and predictability to the annual payments made to states and counties containing National Forest lands. The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act establishes Resource Advisory Committees (RAC's), appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and consisting of fifteen local citizens and three replacement members.

RAC-funded projects must be located in Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Cochise, and Maricopa Counties with includes all districts of Coronado National Forest except Safford District plus Mesa District of the Tonto National Forest. Projects can be completed by Forest Service personnel, through partnership agreements or by open-bid contracting with individuals and corporations.  The RAC works closely with the Forest Service to recommend projects that will benefit forest health, fish, wildlife, soils, watersheds and other resources; maintains roads, trails and other infrastructure; or control noxious weeds.

Generally, the committee’s role is to review and recommend projects and funding to the Designated Federal Officer. The Designated Federal Officer is responsible for considering the committee’s recommendations in the context of the forest land management plan and the laws and regulations that govern Forest Service activities and to approve the project if appropriate.

The RAC helps “to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the land management agencies consistent with the purposes of the Act." Members of the Southern Arizona RAC represent a variety of interests ranging from organized labor, mining, grazing and timber interests, nationally and locally recognized environmental organizations, elected officials and tribal representatives.

Southern Arizona RAC Membership

Interested in joining the Southern Arizona Advisory Committee, please submit an application.

Southern Arizona Advisory Committee Members 2023

Southern Arizona RAC Activities