Lincoln County benefits from federal dollars

Lincoln County’s coffers are a bit healthier following the recent injections of federal money to its budget.

The first occurred during the March 4 county commission meeting when District 3 Commissioner Noel Duram confirmed the Secure Rural Schools payment of nearly $3.6 million. 

Duram said that because the county got $953,002 in 2025 from revenue from timber harvest on the Kootenai National Forest, it’s actual allocation is about $2.6 million.

After federal land management priorities changed and timber harvests declined, Congress created the Secure Rural Schools program in 2000 to alleviate financial challenges faced by rural counties.

The program lapsed at the end of fiscal year 2023, cutting revenue-sharing by 63% and leaving forest counties with significant budget challenges. As a result of the program’s reauthorization, counties will receive funding to support essential government services for their communities.

A significant bipartisan effort led to its reauthorization near the end of 2025.

Resuming Secure Rural Schools funding also reduces pressure on the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program.

The Secure Rural Schools program provides funding that supports critical local government services such as education, transportation and public safety to counties with National Forest System land administered by the U.S. Forest Service. 

Federal land is untaxable, but counties still have government services responsibilities on and around federal land and payments are especially vital for timber counties as they navigate economic transition and work towards long-term stability.

The next two sources of funds came after a visit the following week from U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke.

Following stops in Flathead and Sanders counties, Zinke was in Libby to hand out two ceremonial checks March 9.

The first chunk of money, $799,000, went to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for its Law Enforcement Resiliency Project to support the purchase of new police vehicles and equipment. 

“Deputies in Lincoln County patrol thousands of square miles, often in rough conditions and far from backup,” Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short said. “Reliable vehicles and updated equipment make a real difference in how quickly we can respond and how safely our deputies can do their job. We appreciate Congressman Zinke recognizing the needs of rural law enforcement and helping secure this funding.” 

Short explained that the money will allow the department to buy six or seven patrol vehicles and three vehicles for detectives.

Patrol vehicles have to be specially retrofitted for the demands of the job. 

“They also have to be pursuit-rated so we don’t have liability issues that may occur in certain situations,” Short said.

Short has sought money for the last few years to replace aging vehicles, but budget troubles have thwarted those efforts.

“It feels great to get this funding,” Short said.

The second amount of money, $454,000, went to the county for repairs to the Troy Airport runway as part of the Rural Airport Reconstruction and Emergency Services Expansion project, which will help maintain reliable aviation access for emergency services and rural transportation.

“States like Montana have been overlooked for too long, our infrastructure is aging and our law enforcement is under-equipped for the massive acreage they cover,” Congressman Zinke said. “Replacing aging bridges, upgrading rural roads and making sure our sheriffs and deputies have the gear they need protects families, supports local economies and keeps Montana moving. These projects were a team effort, from Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox calling me and my office near every day to the hard work of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, we made sure this funding went to the priorities of the communities that need them most."

Zinke was in Sanders County earlier that day to present a $10 million check to officials that will be used to help pay for the replacement of the failing Noxon Bridge. It will be used for the first phase of the replacement project. The county also got $965,000 for new police vehicles and equipment for the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, and $1.1 million to repave Marten Creek Road.

In Flathead County, officials there got $1 million to put guard rails up on the North Fork Road, outside of Columbia Falls.

According to Zinke’s press office, the funding was part of more than $35 million he secured in fiscal year 2026 as a part of the appropriations process.

    Lincoln County commissioners Brent Teske, left, and Jim Hammons, accept a ceremonial check from U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke to make improvements to the runway at the Troy Airport. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)