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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 22, 2003 Another bleak scenario County proposes a mix of cuts, taxes and fees to deal with a $3.4 million shortfall By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune To counter a $3.4 million budget shortfall, Jackson County officials have proposed slashing historical society funding, raising taxes to continue rural sheriff’s patrols and boosting rural development fees. County administrators laid out a bleak scenario Tuesday before a budget panel that hopes to steer a course through present and future fiscal problems. The county expects a bumpy budget ride for the next four years in preparation for 2007, when a federal government program to aid timber-dependent counties will end along with $19 million in annual funding. In the meantime, the projected 2003-04 budget shortfall in the $53 million general fund is being driven by a $1.7 million hike in retirement benefits, a $1.5 million jump in self- insurance costs and other expenses. With an eye to future budget problems, Commissioner Sue Kupillas said, "Either we fall off the cliff or we come up with long-range solutions." County Administrator Sue Slack said the budget panel could consider other options, ranging from cutting staff to raising revenues. County Commissioner Dave Gilmour suggested, "If everybody in this room froze their salaries, it would have a powerful symbolic value." Richard Rudisile, a member of the budget committee, said he could think of $3 million or $4 million in potential savings for the county if it wanted to make some hard decisions. "Why do we have a library in every town?" he said. "If some of the small cities want their libraries, let them run them." County officials have recommended reducing the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s budget by $250,000 each year until its total funding is $300,000. The county currently provides about $1 million a year to the historical society. County Assessor Dan Ross, citing cuts to health services and other government agencies, said, "It seems ludicrous to me that we’re funding the historical society at that rate." John Enders, the society’s executive director, criticized any suggestion of more cuts to his budget. "Not only does this violate the law but it will gut our organization and will do irreparable harm to the historical society," he said. The county and historical society have been locked in a continuing legal dispute because a 54-year-old county property tax levy provides 25 cents for every $1,000 of assessed valuation to the society. However, county officials say this levy was nullified by Measure 50, a 1997 property tax initiative that required the consolidation of levies, allowing counties to disperse the money as they see fit. If the county decides to make further cuts to the historical society, Enders said, "We would have to close museum doors and be a caretaker for the sites that we manage for the county." Enders, who said he was astounded that he wasn’t notified of the budget meeting, said he doesn’t understand how the county expects to continue maintaining facilities and historical artifacts without sufficient funding. The county is also considering other options to increase revenues. A property tax levy that would go before voters in 2004 would fund rural law enforcement patrols. If voters reject it, the patrols would end. Sheriff Mike Winters said, "If we have to cut the number of officers, we will cut the number of officers." Another possible way to raise revenues is to boost development fees in rural areas, bringing $1.3 million in the 2003-04 budget. At present, the county only collects 20 percent of the costs of permits, but that would increase to 75 percent under the new plan. Slack said the county will lobby for a continuation of federal timber money after it runs out in 2007, but it still needs to plan for the loss of funds. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S