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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend February 18, 2007 'It's starting to come home how serious this is' By damian mann Mail Tribune Losing federal dollars will affect every Southern Oregon county as officials consider shutting down libraries, ending sheriff's patrols and sharply reducing maintenance of roads. "You're looking at a more than 60 percent hit to our budget, which just translates into devastation," said Douglas County Commissioner Doug Robertson. Robertson knows he's not alone as Jackson, Curry, Coos, Josephine and Klamath counties brace their citizens for the hard times ahead. In Josephine and Jackson counties, libraries are scheduled to close. Douglas County likely will curtail the number of hours its libraries are open. Other counties fund their libraries through special districts, which aren't vulnerable to the ups and downs of county budgets. Advertisement In Douglas County, Robertson said the commissioners will have to better educate residents about cuts to law enforcement, roads and public health. "It's starting to come home just how serious this is," he said. Robertson remains cautiously optimistic that Congress will find a way to renew the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act, a federal safety net for counties with a significant portion of land owned by the federal government. Much of the federal land was carved up in the 1800s under a land grant to the Oregon and California Railroad Co. However, since 1937 the land was taken back by the federal government and was managed for timber production, generating money for counties. Since the 1990s, timber harvests have been sharply reduced because of federal environmental protections, which also reduced the amount of money flowing into county coffers. To offset these losses, the federal government created a safety net funding program for counties. Jackson County received about $23 million annually from the safety net, but would only receive about $2 million from timber receipts under the current rate of timber harvests. Robertson, president of the Association of O&C Counties, said he's hopeful that a plan will be devised to allow more timber harvests in the near future. In the meantime, he said the best hope for the counties is to get a renewal of the safety net. He said the expense of the Iraq war has hurt chances of getting the federal money. "It's a big reason," said Robertson, who also cited the expense of Hurricane Katrina. He said when the secure rural schools act was passed in 2000, the federal budget had a surplus. Now, six years later, it's facing a deficit. "The war and Katrina are putting a tremendous strain on the federal budget," he said. Coos County Commissioner John Griffith, however, said, "Blaming the war in Iraq is ridiculous." He said the O&C land grant has survived two major wars in the past century and the federal government always paid its way through them. The big problem, he said, are the environmental regulations such as those protecting the spotted owl that have turned these lands into a liability instead of a revenue producer. "Congress caused this mess," he said. "Congress alone has the power to amend the Endangered Species Act." Griffith said Coos County is losing $6 million of its general fund budget and $1.2 million out of its $6 million roads budget. The sheriff's department, he said, is looking at creating a law enforcement district. Klamath County Commissioner Al Switzer said the losses to his county will be devastating, particularly cutting 14 out of 50 positions in the sheriff's department. "It's going to hurt us in law enforcement," he said. "That is a killer." The county will see a 10 percent budget reduction in its general fund, but will lose more than half of its $18 million roads budget. Switzer said the county has a $45 million reserve for roads that will help, but he said the money was set aside to replace aging bridges built with timber pilings more than 30 years ago. He agrees that more needs to be done to harvest more timber, but he said much of the infrastructure is gone to process that lumber. "Right now we need a one-year reauthorization," he said, referring to the federal safety net. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Entertainment Guide Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Men's Clothing Debt Help