Tester urges reinstatement of funds that aid county

A federal program that put $288,000 into the Jefferson County coffers in 2016 has expired and Sen. Jon Tester says that is hurting Montana counties. 

Calling the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding critical to supporting essential services, Tester wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging reauthorization.

“We are now witnessing firsthand the hardships rural counties face as a result of SRS authorization lapsing,” Tester wrote. “Without the certainty of SRS payments, schools, libraries and jails are in danger of closing.”