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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 28, 2006 Commissioner candidates say revenue stability is key By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune With the possible loss of federal timber subsidies looming, candidates vying for a chance to become a Jackson County commissioner agree that the county must find alternative revenue. Their suggested solutions range from new taxing districts or special purpose local levies to Indian casinos and hydroelectric generating plants. The two Democrats, Carl Worden and Tom Winmill, are in the race for the seat currently held by Jack Walker. Walker, a Republican who has been a commissioner for 11 years, is challenged within his party by Morris "Bub" Saltekoff. Democrat Dave Gilmour holds the other commissioner's job up for election this year. He has no Democratic competition, but Republicans Craig Prewitt and Jerry Hanson are facing off for a chance to challenge him in the general election. Walker has lobbied for the continuation of federal funds to replace the revenue the county once received from the harvest of trees from federal lands. But he acknowledges times have changed and the federal lands won't generate money like they once did. Advertisement "We have to take a business approach to raising money," he said. "We need to create revenues." In the long term, he would like to see sustainable harvests on federal land to provide some money. For now, the county must focus on critical services, he said. "If you lose a third of your general fund, you have to look at who is going to get hurt — physically," he said. To avoid such consequences, he would preserve public safety and public health services. Officials must evaluate other services, which could be supported by fees, such as parks are now, he said. Walker would like the county to maintain basic library services and let communities take greater responsibility for their own branches. Cities could pick up some library operating costs and volunteers could take on larger roles, he suggested. Federal subsidies can't be depended on and the timber industry has changed, said Saltekoff, a former millwright. "That free lunch is gone," he said. "We must look at ways to sustain ourselves." He sees a solution flowing through the county's irrigation canals and other waterways. Waterwheels spun by flowing water could generate hydroelectric power without dams or harm to fish, he said. A county-built generating system could sell power to California and building and maintaining the equipment would provide jobs to further boost the local economy. A handyman who turned to beekeeping after injury and timber industry changes, Saltekoff said his down-home innovation could be turned on any problem the county faces. "I was a shift millwright ­-- the guy who keeps things going, all the machines and the people, during the shift. That's what I want to do for the county," he said. On the Democratic ticket, Worden, who said he was a lifelong Republican until the party's values moved away from his with the quashing of quiet protests at Bush rallies here in 2004 and warrantless wiretaps, wants to bring an Indian casino to Jackson County to generate revenue and jobs. He would like to start discussions with tribes across the region immediately and thinks the Siskiyou Mountains near Mount Ashland and Callahan's could be an ideal location for a casino and destination resort. Worden would draw on his experience as national sales manager for a circus to develop a national and international advertising campaign to attract tourists to the county's natural wonders, such as the Rogue River. "I want to operate on the premise that we will lose the timber subsidies and must make this a revenue-producing county," he said. Subsidies, designed to be temporary, should have been stashed in a rainy-day fund all along rather than being spent as part of the general fund, he said. High salaries for administrators compound budget problems, he said. His opponent Winmill praised the county for establishing a rainy-day fund in anticipation of the end of the timber money. He advocates plans the county already is working on to seek a levy for library operations this fall and for sheriff's patrols next year. Those levies could replace about $16 million of the anticipated $23 million shortfall created by the elimination of the timber subsidies, he said. To help make up some of the rest of the revenue, he suggests user fees with a clear connection between the source and the expense. "For example, a tax could be imposed on dog and cat food to pay for animal control or boat-launching fees on the Rogue to pay for code enforcement and riparian and habitat protection," he said. In the contested race to challenge Gilmour, longtime Phoenix-Talent School Board member Craig Prewitt said the county must take a look at an operating levy for libraries and one for law enforcement. "Those two services account for huge amounts of the county's discretionary operating budget," he said. He also praised the county's efforts to establish a rainy-day fund. Prewitt's opponent Hanson didn't respond to repeated requests for an interview. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s