State Capitol
Task Force on Federal Forest Payments
Governor Receives Report from Task Force on Federal Forest Payments
On June 23, Governor Ted Kulongoski received a series of recommendations on ways that county governments and the state can work together to save critical services threatened by the loss of federal forest payments – the first and most critical of which was to urge Congress to reauthorize federal forest payments for at least four years. Other recommendations include long-term solutions, covering dozens of local, state and federal actions that can be implemented over the next four years.
Read the
report and
exhibits.
Task Force on Federal Forest Payments
In November 2007, the Governor issued an Executive Order (pdf) that established the Governor's Task Force on Federal Forest Payments and County Services.
- The Task Force shall compile and review research on the impact on services provided by counties and the State from any delay or reduction in federal forest payments. The Task Force shall develop recommendations regarding administrative, budgetary, statutory and, if necesssary, constitutional changes needed to provide stable and adequate funding for the provision of essential services at the county level. In fulfilling its charge, the Task Force shall:
- Compile an assessment of likely service impacts in each affected county from a reduction or termination of federal forest payments and a comparison of each county's ability to provide essential services within their statutory and constitutional taxing authorities;
- Prepare projections of future timber revenues under current and proposed policies for managing timber harvests from federal lands;
- Identify services for which the State provides funding, partners with the counties or relies on the counties for service delivery;
- Gather suggestions from the counties and state agencies for organizational and policy changes that can yield more cost-effective delivery of services at the county level;
- Develop recommendations for executive and legislative action; and
- Support efforts to secure the continuation of federal forest payments.
The Task Force shall direct its recommendations to:
- The Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring established by House Bill 2530;
- The Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
- The President of the Senate.
Links
Meeting AgendasMeeting MinutesMember BiographiesPress ReleasesExecutive Order (pdf)Handouts & ResourcesTaskforce Home
Page updated: October 20, 2008 Main Links
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