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Governor Kitzhaber with Intergovernmental Relations Director Greg Wolf, Senator Joann Verger, D-Coos Bay and Curry County Commissioner George Rhodes |
Earlier today a group of county commissioners and a county judge met with Governor Kitzhaber at his invitation to discuss the plight of their counties with the loss of federal forest payments. Commissioners Tony Hyde (Columbia), Bob Main (Coos), George Rhodes (Curry), Doug Robertson (Douglas), Simon Hare (Josephine), Al Switzer (Klamath), Fay Stewart (Lane) and Judge Mark Webb (Grant) met with the Governor along with state agency directors and representatives of cities and special districts.
The Governor opened the meeting by saying that he, "wants to be able to develop the tools for counties to use, and for the state to use, to be able to continue to provide services for the citizens of Oregon." He recognizes the deep fiscal problems that both the counties and state are facing and he assured the group that this is a top priority of his administration. The Governor dismissed himself after 45 minutes, but the meeting continued with his staff and state agency heads for another hour and 45 minutes.
The severity of the problem was brought to life by example after example from the county commissioners. Commissioner George Rhodes said Curry County is preparing to hand all public services back to the state with the exception of sheriff, District Attorney and jail, and those services will be greatly curtailed. Commissioner Al Switzer pointed out that counties will no longer be able to partner with the state on transportation/road projects because counties simply don't have the money to make the match.
Commissioner Faye Stewart asked, "if we can't fund the match for Veterans' Services, will there be no services?" Likewise, "what happens when we have a failing bridge and can't provide the match?"
Commissioner Simon Hare pointed out that residents have a difficult time distinguishing between the different governments they see. For example, while Josephine County is in dire straits, the Oregon Department of Transportation has recently completed a project that introduced bike lanes and sidewalks along a mile of highway 199. Additionally, the City of Grants Pass recently purchased a new ladder truck for the fire department, regardless of the fact that Grants Pass has no tall buildings.
But by and large, the focus of the discussion was on public safety. Public safety concerns are of paramount importance to the county commissioners and the Governor and state agency folks share this concern. Leaving crimes unprosecuted, emergency calls unanswered and roads not patrolled is a most unappealing situation for all. Outgoing superintendent of State Police Chris Brown said that he is not able, under current budget constraints, to fund 64 new trooper recruits if he wants to keep the crime lab open. Difficult decisions abound at all levels of government. Senator Joann Verger (D-Coos Bay) opined that the criminals like having a broken public safety system. She also reminded the group that while some legislators fully understand the plight facing counties, many more do not and we need to educate them.
At the end of the day, the Governor wants to provide technical assistance to counties, he wants this group of state and county folks to work with the legislative task force on county payments, and he wants to keep the communication between his office and this group going strong. In addition, the Governor's government relations director, Greg Wolf agrees that we need to align state and county strategies regarding lobbying on federal forest legislation.
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