Enviro Programs Hit Extra Hard By Oregon Budget Cutters

As lawmakers in Salem struggle to save education funding and keep schools open, some of the biggest losers in the process are Oregon’s natural resources.

Here’s what the current numbers from the Legislative Fiscal Office show us, spending on natural resource programs makes up only 1.3% of general fund spending. But the amount being cut from those programs is more than 3.3% of total cuts.

In other words, natural resources are being cut more than twice as much as they would be if the pain was shared equally.

And those figures I just showed you? They’re based on last week’s estimate of an $800 million dollar shortfall. The shortfall has grown by $55 million and another round of budget cuts is underway this week and next.

Chinook Salmon Courtesy ODFW

One of the groups trying to protect natural resource programs is the Oregon League Of Conservation Voters (OLCV). Their Legislative Affairs Director, Evan Manvel, says he understands that legislators have to make some tough choices. But he’s also worried that the cuts could go so deep that lawmakers will do permanent damage. He’s most concerned about air and water quality, and fish and wildlife programs.

Manvel says part of the problem is that these discussions can be framed as fish vs. people. “We don’t have a human face, like a child, or someone who needs state aid, or who is hungry,” says Manvel. He says part of the job is to remind lawmakers to leave behind a healthy environmental legacy. As he puts it, “programs that help fish also help humans.”

Meanwhile, the OLCV and allies are looking at ways to raise money for natural resource programs.  Among the ideas, according to Manvel, reducing some tax breaks, reduce subsidies for parking, and increasing some fees for non-motorized boats such as canoes and kayaks.

The Legislative Fiscal Office expects to update the budget cut numbers tomorrow.  When they do, look for an update here.