An ugly reminder of just how bad things are in Oregon.
State agencies released new budgets showing what cuts they’ll make to deal with a $577 million shortfall in money from the general fund. For the agencies that oversee Oregon’s natural resources, it means less for fighting wildfires, operating hatcheries, monitoring water quality and the safety of coastal shellfish.
What’s Getting Cut?
A rundown of who’s getting cut, how much, and how they’ll deal with it.
Forestry – Total Cuts $1.84 million
- Nearly all of the money, about $1.4 million, will be cut from the wildfire fighting budget. Forestry will save money by waiting longer to hire seasonal firefighters, by not buying new firefighting equipment, and by keeping used equipment in service for another year.
Environmental Quality – Total Cuts $1.31 million
- DEQ will reduce spending on water quality programs by $855,000. It’ll do that through salary freezes, not filling some vacant positions, and doing less monitoring of water quality.
Agriculture – Total Cuts $652,203
- The biggest slice, about $249,000, comes in the food safety program. For example, Agriculture will have less to spend on testing for toxins in coastal shellfish such as clams and mussels.
Fish and Wildlife – Total Cuts $572,419
- ODFW plans to trim about $240,000 from hatcheries, meaning they’ll be producing fewer fish in the next 12 months. Other savings will come from not filling vacant positions.
Not All Agencies Treated Equally
State agencies are under orders from Governor Kulongoski to budget for 9% less in general fund money for the next 12 months. Just how badly that hurts depends on how much an agency relies on the general fund. Some agencies get little or no money from the general fund and they’re coming through this process pretty much untouched.
The Good News Is…
The Parks and Recreation Department didn’t have to make any cuts at all because it gets no money from the general fund. Parks and Rec is supported mostly through the fees we pay for camping and visiting state parks, from license fees on recreational vehicles, and by the lottery.
In fact, the agency gets 38% of its budget from the lottery. Supporters are working on a ballot measure to make sure that source of money doesn’t go away.
See earlier story: This Fall, Will Oregon Support Water, Parks and Wildlife?
Is This It?
Probably not. Ordering across the board cuts is about all Gov K can do to deal with revenue shortfalls. On the other hand, the legislature can dig into the details, protecting some agencies at the expense of others. House Speaker Dave Hunt says members of the House Emergency Board are meeting over the next couple of weeks to come up with their own ideas on where to cut. Similar steps are being taken in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Oregon officials are hoping Congress will pass legislation that continues direct payments to states. Two bills being considered would mean Oregon would get $470 million to spend on education and health care.
