Oregon’s Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, have secured their colleagues’ support of several million dollars in aid to counties in timber country. The Senate voted 86 to 12 in favor of an amendment to extend the Secure Rural Schools Act.

The Amendment has become part of the transportation bill. If it survives the legislative process, it will mean $102 million dollars for some southern Oregon Counties that historically relied heavily on timber harvests.

Alex Culyer manages governmental relations for Lane County. He says winning over Senators in other parts of the country was hard work.

He explained, “The counties in Oregon took the lead in trying to make this more of a nationwide conversation. We contribed to Partnerhsip for Rural America to educate people in otehr parts of the country that have natl forests. We started to gain, especially in rural parts of south, some key supporters.”

Some places will still face substantial budget cuts at the end of this fiscal year. Lane County, for example, will still face an estimated $10.5 million shortfall, even with the extension.

The amendment may face opposition from House members bent on fiscal austerity.

This story originally appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting.