New Website Encouragse a Permanent Solution to the Loss of Federal Timber Lands Funding

Polk County, Oregon launched a new website urging lawmakers to find a permanent solution for the loss of Federal Timber Lands funding. Without this funding, the citizens of Polk stand to lose 2.4 million annually in services including teachers, patrol deputies, and human services programs.

Salem-News.com

(DALLAS) - Polk County, Oregon recently launched a new website www.co.polk.or.us/OC/default.asp urging lawmakers to find a permanent solution for the loss of federal timber dollars.

The site also provides ways for local citizens to become involved in this effort, as well as background information on the O & C Lands, a photo gallery depicting historic logging in Polk County, and downloadable flyers, petitions, and related documents.

Officials say Polk County, Oregon will lose $2.4 million annually unless a permanent solution is found to replace the loss of Federal Timber Lands funding.

This translates to drastic cuts in funding to schools, law enforcement, extension services, public health, dog control, environmental health, public safety, parks, and the county fair.

Federal timber land includes all timber lands managed by the federal government such as the Forest Services and Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Much of this land in Polk County (>30,000 acres) are O&C lands created as a result of a failed land grant that was established to promote settlement along the Oregon & California Railroad. These lands DO NOT generate taxes to support schools & government services.

For many years money from timber production on O&C and other federal lands was a substantial part of school and county government budgets.

During the 1990’s, federal timber production was drastically reduced without regard to impact on schools and county services resulting in hard times and budget shortfalls.

In 2003, Congress created a temporary solution to fund schools and services until a permanent solution could be found. A long term solution is urgently needed that will be good for schools, your pocket book, and county services.