Counties to draft legislative strategy on habitat conservation plan shortfalls
After hours' worth of small-table discussions, the Council of Forest Trust Land Counties' executive director will begin working with the governor's office to draft a legislative concept aimed at addressing financial impacts of the state's habitat conservation plan.
The direction comes following a vote Thursday at the council's board meeting.
Clatsop State Forest
A habitat conservation plan would restrict logging in state forests to protect species.
Over the past year, five representatives from the Council of Forest Trust Land Counties have met regularly with Gov. Tina Kotek's office to navigate anticipated funding shortfalls resulting from the habitat conservation plan. The plan, which the Oregon Board of Forestry narrowly advanced in March, sets aside roughly 640,000 acres of state forests for habitat conservation zones to protect threatened and endangered species, primarily in Clatsop and Tillamook counties.
According to a memo provided to the council in June, future timber harvest volumes could decrease by more than 20% from historical harvest levels under the plan, with a corresponding decrease in revenue. Modeling estimates released by the Department of Forestry in December indicate that Clatsop County would be the most financially impacted county in the state.
Representatives from Forest Trust Land counties brainstormed more than a dozen potential solutions to the projected revenue gap. In June, the governor's office asked the council to choose between three.
Under the current funding model, roughly one-third of state timber revenue goes to the Department of Forestry, while the remaining two-thirds goes to local governments, special districts and school districts in Forest Trust Land counties. The three reallocation options can be thought of as a question of which of three funding recipients would see a reduction in funding.
Under option one, the local share of state timber revenues would increase, and the Department of Forestry would be subsidized through the state general fund or another funding source. Under option two, the reverse would happen. Under option three, school districts would be cut out of the equation entirely and be covered by the state's school equalization formula, with state timber revenue split 53% and 47% between counties and the Department of Forestry.
At Thursday's meeting, Branden Pursinger, the Council of Forest Trust Land Counties' executive director, presented voting members with a motion that would allow him to begin collaboratively drafting a legislative concept to increase flexibility for affected counties to address revenue shortfalls, give county commissioners increased discretion over use of harvest proceeds, require detailed reports on revenue impacts to Forest Trust Land counties, and maintain the Department of Forestry's funding relationship with the management of the Trust Lands.
Although the governor's office has been facilitating small-table discussions with the Trust Land counties, Pursinger said Kotek is not currently planning to sponsor a bill that might emerge from the process.
'We need us to solve this'
Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker echoed concerns from other commissioners, calling for an amendment to the motion to include a goal of joint introduction of the final concept.
"I do hope that this would give that message that this body expects the governor to be present and more than present," Tucker said. "We need us to solve this. We need her. We won't get this through on Forest Trust Lands counties."
Commissioners stopped short of recommending a specific option for a legislative concept. However, they did rule out options one and two, citing concerns that the Department of Forestry may lose the incentive to continue harvesting if it were not dependent on timber revenue, and counties would face significant challenges if they had to go to the Legislature every two years to request funding. Still, many agreed that they don't want a potential bill to come at the expense of local school districts.
Four school districts in Tillamook and Clatsop counties — Nestucca, Neah-Kah-Nie, Jewell and Seaside — have historically fallen outside of the school equalization formula because local revenue, including timber revenue, has been higher than what the formula would apportion. Those districts are expected to see significant budget cuts as a result of the habitat conservation plan. Because state timber revenues are included in the equalization formula as a local resource, reductions in those revenues could also result in a reduction across the entire system.
In Tillamook County, schools are at the "heartbeat" of the community, said Commissioner Erin Skaar, the council's vice chair.
"If we are to move forward, right now, we have a strong 'no' from the schools in our community. We have a strong 'no' from the school organizations at the state level," Skaar said. "It has the ability to tear our community fabric apart if we are not able to find a way to come to a solution where our schools do not feel that their funds are being ripped from them."
Skaar said she hopes any work on a legislative concept would open the door for further conversations to find a solution that doesn't damage schools. Commissioner Courtney Bangs, who represents Clatsop County, expressed similar sentiments.
"We're not voting to defund these schools. We're voting for more conversation so that we can solve everybody's problems," Bangs said. She added that she hopes the governor's office can work to support impacted school districts through an option like an additional rural school grant.
Pursinger reminded commissioners that their vote doesn't lock the council or the governor's office into crafting a specific bill. The motion approved Thursday is an attempt to ensure that council staff meets the bill drafting deadline and can begin a process of drafting language to bring forward on the first day of the Legislative session next year.
The process will be dynamic.
"I will not move forward with anything unless the counties are in support," Pursinger said. "As something gets drafted, I will keep the board apprised. As we approach deadlines and decisions need to be made, I will request with the chair to convene the members of the board for additional discussions and additional decisions."
