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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Central Point School District on 2-hour delay because of snow ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 2, 1916 ... Oregon man pleads guilty to planting fake bomb on plane ... Central Point School District on 2-hour delay because of snow ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 2, 1916 ... Oregon man pleads guilty to planting fake bomb on plane ... OTHER VIEWS Other Views: State should reimburse Harney County Comment By The (Bend) Bulletin MailTribune.com By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jan. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jan. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Gov. Kate Brown said last week in a press conference that she will ask the Legislature next month to come up with money to reimburse Harney County for the expense of having militants ensconced on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Lawmakers must do just that. The occupation, which began Jan. 2, has been an expensive proposition. In the early days, the county's chief executive officer, Judge Steve Grasty, put the price tag at about $70,000 per day. Last week, Brown said the county's ongoing expenses were running about $100,000 per week. Either way, it's money Harney County doesn't have. The county is the state's largest — more than 10,000 miles square — and its sheriff's department has an annual budget of $2.289 million. By contrast, Deschutes County is only about 3,000 miles square, and the sheriff's office has a budget of some $44.6 million. Just about 7,000 people live in Harney County, only slightly more than live in the city of Madras. The task of providing law enforcement for a gaggle of visitors ranging from Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel to journalists to occupation sympathizers has stretched the small sheriff's department beyond its limit, so much so that law enforcement officers from around the state have been helping out when they are able. And, while Grasty has said he will bill the occupiers' leaders for the county's costs, that's a move unlikely to result in a paid bill. There's some logic to sending that bill to the federal government, to be sure. The wildlife refuge is owned by the federal government, and federal officers are in charge of how occupiers are being dealt with — or not dealt with. The occupation's cost, in other words, is not something the county can control. But asking Uncle Sam to pay the bill is not the same as getting a check in the mail, and unless and until there's certainty that the check is on the way, the state must step in. That means lawmakers, who will convene in Salem beginning Feb. 1, must act to take up the slack. By The (Bend) Bulletin MailTribune.com By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jan. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501