Sonora, CA — Word has reached Tuolumne County officials that the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act may pass the Congress this week.
According to Superintendent of Schools Joe Silva, there was little chance, if any, that the act would be reauthorized for another year. However Silva received word just this morning that Oregon´s Fourth District Democratic Congressman Peter DeFazio had received an assurance from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that the act would indeed be authorized. A vote is scheduled to take place later this week.
This act would have a national impact of $460 million. $68 million would come to California and Tuolumne County would be in line to receive $2.5 million. One million dollars would go to schools, a like amount to roads and the remaining half a million dollars would go to the county. To Sonora High School this funding would amount to $178,000 on an annual basis.
Silva added that 19th District Republican Congressman George Radanovich has been a strong backer of the act along with California´s two Democratic senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer respectively.
Written by Bill Johnson
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 1:47 pm