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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: January 5, 2007 Walden, DeFazio work on returning timber funds By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Two Oregon congressmen have reintroduced a bill to resume a safety-net funding program of timber receipts that would keep libraries open in Jackson County and prevent severe budget cuts in other Oregon counties. Republican Rep. Greg Walden and Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio jointly introduced a bill on Thursday seeking a seven-year extension to the law, known as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. The act includes payments to Jackson and 31 other Oregon counties in lieu of timber receipts as part of a funding mechanism in place since 1908. When a budget-cutting Congress failed to reauthorize the program last month, Jackson County faced a $23 million budget shortfall that could lead to closing local libraries and slashing county services this spring. It also left in the lurch hundreds of school districts and county governments in 38 other states that rely on similar programs funded through the act. Walden said he's optimistic this package will pass because of possible new funding sources and a renewed sense among congressional leaders of the urgent need for it. "It'll take time and it won't be easy because some of the impediments are in the way that were there last fall," Walden said in a Thursday interview. "But I think there was an understanding at the end of last session of the problems we face. "It's that old salesman in me — it takes four no's to get a yes," Walden said. "We've had a couple no's so far. Let's hope for a yes." While the act works its way through Congress, Walden said he will attempt to get a one-year extension attached to a government funding bill that is expected to become law next month. The act would fund $880 million worth of federal assistance annually, of which $273 million would go to Oregon. Jackson County Commissioner C.W. Smith said the fact that the act's assistance is so far-reaching will help get other lawmakers to support the bill, which had 27 co-sponsors when it was introduced Thursday. "All of a sudden, layoff notices started going out and constituencies are rising up all over," Smith said. "Legislators respond to that. "I'm calling this a national domestic federal funding crisis," Smith said. Possible sources to fund the act include the recapturing of oil royalty payments as well as unearmarked money within the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, Walden said. "There will be a lot of effort to identify several pots of money to pay for this," Walden said. Failure to pass the act last session means a $23 million budget shortfall in Jackson County government, which is poised to close its libraries and lay off county workers. Possible cuts include $2 million out of the sheriff's budget, $1 million out of Community Justice and $4 million from county road maintenance. Genie Gilliam, who chairs the Jackson County Library Advisory Committee, called the new bill "exciting" but said her committee will continue to plan library closures because the money isn't guaranteed. "If Walden could pull that off, it would be extremely helpful," Gilliam said. "But we can't count on it." Jackson County historically has relied upon timber receipts from logging on federal lands to fund county government. But receipts began to crash in the 1990s amid cutbacks to federal logging, and counties such as Jackson relied on safety-net programs like this one to keep afloat. "We're continuing to make the argument that this is a contract the federal government had for over 100 years to these counties," Walden said. "I don't think anybody believes this will be easy to accomplish," Walden said. "But it's doable." Current Comments: If DeFazio worked on the timber agenda a little more, and actively supported sound harvest on BLM and USFS lands, we wouldn't have the severe county budget problem that we are now facing. An obvious answer to the shortfall in timber receipts from federal forests is to harvest timber. Duh! Let's get the radical enviros off the backs of the federal land managers! AR - Ashland,OR - January 5th, 8:08 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Water Filter Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us