Senator Ted Ferrioli

Oregon State Capitol

900 Court Street NE, S-223

Salem, Oregon 97301

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       CONTACT:  Michael Gay

July 1, 2008                                                                                                                           503.986.1950

503.781.8559

Ferrioli calls on Governor to act on behalf of counties

New fiscal year begins July 1^st $238 million short

Salem, OR - On the eve of the new fiscal year for Oregon counties reeling from the loss of Secure Rural School funding, Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) is calling on Governor Ted Kulongoski to provide the only practical solution to put local governments back into the black. 

Ferrioli is asking the Governor to support quick adoption of the Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) which would restore 94% of the lost funding to some of the hardest hit rural counties.

“Right now, it is all up to Ted Kulongoski,” said Ferrioli.  “The Western Oregon Plan Revision Preferred Alternative 2 provides for an increase in sustainable timber harvesting on O&C Lands in some of the economically hardest-hit counties in Oregon.  The Governor should immediately and forcefully support the preferred alternative.”

Alternative 2 would better manage 2.2 million acres under Oregon’s O&C Act and would generate 94% of the lost revenue from Secure Rural Schools Act. The plan would calls for timber emphasis on 48% of the land, while managing the other 52% for old-growth characteristics and species protection. New wages of $136.5 million would be generated from 3,442 new jobs.

Ferrioli warned that if the Governor fails to support this reasonable plan, taxpayers will have to shoulder 75 to 90% of the funding loss through layoffs, cuts and reductions of services while counties would likely be asked to absorb the remaining losses.

“At this point the Democrat-led US Congress has failed our schools and counties,” said Ferrioli.  “The Governor has one last chance to show real leadership.  I call upon Ted Kulongoski to put citizens back to work so counties have the tools to pay for basic services.  If he refuses to do so, he should warn citizens that state government will have to step in and shoulder the costs of keeping the doors open.” 

On July 1^st, Oregon will lose $238 million in federal funding from the Secure Rural Self Determination Act.  That means county general fund budgets are losing the money to pay for sheriff’s deputies, health clinics, roads and other basic county services. Twenty four of Oregon’s 36 counties will lose 26% of their general funds and 44% of their road funds.  Curry and Josephine counties are in danger of financial collapse as a result of the losses. 

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