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Poverty Economy Current Economic Trends Response to
Felice Pace's "Siskiyou Supervisors Trash Fishing and Cal
Trout"
Here is a quote from that study regarding the declining
economic impact of salmon and steelhead fisheries:
"The
Mid-Klamath was once a nationally-renowned steelhead
fishing area, evidenced by a road sign at the entrance
to Happy Camp that reads “Steelhead Capital of
the World.” Fishing brought recreationists to the area
and created opportunities to work as fishing guides.
However, fish populations declined significantly in the
late 1980s
and early 1990s, fishing seasons were reduced or
eliminated, and guiding requirements became much more
strict, making this option no longer attractive to most
people. Interviewees reported that fish populations were
rebounding in the early 2000s, bringing hope that they
may again attract visitors to the area."
My comments expressed my personal belief that we
need to concentrate on the socioeconomic needs of the
PEOPLE of Siskiyou County, which are serious and
considerable. The salmon and steelhead fisheries no
longer provide a significant contribution to our local
economy. Considering the facts that follow, at this
point we need to focus our energies on immediate human
issues.
For instance, the Board of Supervisors is agressively
seeking grants to improve or create water and sewer
systems in our unicorporated communities. We are working
to create a better public transportation system and
retain rail service. The College of the Siskiyous will
open a regional rural medical training facility in the
fall. We have a regional firefighting, EMT program and a
law enforcement school. We are encouraging the future
expansion of natural resource management training and
associated technology transfer through the college. We
have obtained a countywide Enterprise Zone Designation,
which we are marketing to attract business and to help
business grow. We need to keep utility rates low as a
selling point. Diversification and growth of our economy
and the creation of jobs must be top priorities.
I, for one, would like to see a robust and impartial
cummulative affects analysis of the socioeconomic impact
of various regulations - PNWFP, ESA/CESA, Clean Water
Act/TMDLs and dam removal on Siskiyou County and the
Klamath River corridor. I suspect that some if not most
of our current human issues will be seen to have a
connection with environmental regulatory restrictions on
economic activities. Certainly, the KNF monitoring study
seems to point in that direction.
Marcia H. Armstrong, Supervisor District 5
Siskiyou County
***
(1) Siskiyou County’s population is 44,700. Sixty nine
percent of the population lives outside the three major
cities.
(2) Over the past two decades, there was a decrease in
the population aged 30-39, (as well as school aged
children,) and an increase in the population aged 50-59,
with those aged 60 making up a higher percentage of the
population than the state average. This aging trend is
projected to steadily increase over the next 20
years.
(3) School enrollment since 1990 has declined from
25-30%.
(4) In the 1960s, one out of nine people in the County
was a Senior 60 years or older. In 2005, one out of four
people was a senior. By 2010, it is projected that 30%
will be seniors and in 21015, one out of every three
people will be a senior. In 2010, there will be
approximately 4,100 people in the County between 70 and
79 years old and 2,800 people 80 years or older (Total
population 45,900.) The communities with the highest
Senior population are: Etna and Mcdoel at 27%; McCloud
at 26%; Yreka at 24% and Mt. Shasta and Weed at 21%.
(1) Siskiyou County has experienced long term
economic distress. The median household income overall
is around $32,531
(2) According to the new 2007 California County Data
Book, Siskiyou County is now dead last in all California
Counties in family economic well-being, having the
lowest median income at $30,356, compared to $112,155
for San Mateo County and $56,332 for California as a
whole. 65% of households with children ages 0-17 are low
income, compared with a California average of 43%. The
report notes that 27% of Siskiyou County’s children live
in official poverty, compared to 19% for the state.
(3) Between 1990 and 2002, official poverty rose 32.9%
to 18.6% of the total population. Several farming
communities have higher poverty rates: 26% in Fort Jones
(Scott Valley); and 24.2% in Montague (Shasta Valley.)
(4) In November 2008, the unemployment rate was 12.2%
- ranking the county 48th highest out of 58
counties. In 2003, only 39.5% of the population was in
the labor force. This is projected to decline another
8.7% by 2015. (It is currently in excess of 17 %.)
(5) In a total population of only 44,700, from July
2007 to June 2008 nearly 900 children were referred to
Siskiyou County Child Protective Services. Estimates
indicate that at least 75% of the families of these
children have significant substance abuse issues. In
2007, Siskiyou County had nearly 2 times the number of
substantiated child abuse cases than the state of
California as a whole.
(6) The 2004 report entitled “Community Indicators
of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Risk for Siskiyou County”
(CA Dept. of Alcohol and Drug) indicates that from
2000-2002 in Siskiyou County, there were 132.1 emergency
responses per 1,000 population under the age 18 for
child endangerment/abuse. This compares with a statewide
average of 68.6 per 1,000. County Foster care placements
were 18. 9 per 1,000, compared with a statewide average
of 10.3.
(7) According to an October 2008 study by Meredith
Bailey entitled “A Review of Intimate Partner
Violence in Siskiyou County,” the rate of Type I
crimes (aggravated assault, robbery and forcible rape,)
is much greater in Siskiyou County than in Los Angeles.
In fact aggravated assault is about five times greater.
Siskiyou County also dominates the surrounding counties
of Humboldt, Shasta, Lassen and Del Norte County in the
rate of these crimes. The report points to “social
strain” fueled by alcohol and drug use as the cause.
Another report indicates that the majhor depression rate
for siskiyou County is 12.5%, while the national rate is
8.5%. The suicide rate in Siskiyou County is 18.8 per
100,000 compared to a national rate of 10.7.
(8) The report entitled “Community Indicators of
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Risk for Siskiyou County”
states that from 1999-2001 the annual rate of DUI
arrests for Siskiyou County was 13.3 per 1000 people
aged 18-69, while the average for the State of
California is only 8.4. The total arrests for
alcohol-related offenses (excluding DUI) was per 13.2
per 1000 people aged 18-69 in Siskiyou County, while the
rate for California is only 5.9. In 1998-2000, the rate
of alcohol related fatalities was 149.4 per 100,000
drivers in Siskiyou County and an average of in the
entire State was 98.1. Other reports show that juvenile
arrests for alcohol and drug offenses are 15.7 per 1,000
- nearly double the state at 9.1 per 1,000. The rate of
chronic drinking is 25% above the national rates.
(1) Other than two plywood veneer mills and
Nor-Cal, Siskiyou County has almost no manufacturing
industry. There is very little economic diversity, with
almost the entire economy based upon continued access to
natural resources.
(2) Agriculture produces $170 million in revenue. The
average net cash profitability of local farms and
ranches is $29,747. (Most are family operated. Many are
heritage “Century Ranches” that have been in existence
since the mid 19th century and have stayed in
a pioneer family.)
(3) In 2002, average annual sales per farm were
approximately $137,000 per farm, but input costs were
$107,386.
(4) According to Cal. D.O.T. Siskiyou County Economic
Forecast, since 1995, Siskiyou County's agriculture
industries have experienced substantial job loss at
about 586 jobs, declining almost 45%. For instance,
since 1996, county vegetable crops have declined in
their contribution to the economy from $18.9 million to
$11.8 million - or 38 percent. (Much of this is due to
regulatory pressures, such as the water crisis in the
Upper Klamath Basin.)
(5) Tourism (mostly in the south county – Sacramento
River Region) is valued at $60 million.
(6) What is left of our timber industry brings in
about $48 million in revenues to be circulated. Logging
jobs have steadily decreased from 951 jobs in 1989, to
331 in 1995, to 186 in 2004.
(1) The Roseburg mill at Weed recently laid
off 30 employees.
(2) Intake applications for public assistance has
increased by 30%
(3) October Cal Works applications: 90 (up from 60).
(4) October Food Stamps and Medi-Cal applications:
273 (up from 180).
(5) In October 2008, there were 48 unemployment
insurance applications –this time last year there were
12.
(6) In October 2008, we had 745 people served in our
Work Force Connection Center (employment services one
stop – up from 453 last year this time). In November
2008, we had 893 people served in our Work Force
Connection Center for employment services.
(7) For November 2008, Human Services case loads were:
a. Cal Works: 818 people
b. Number of Persons Receiving Food Stamps
were 4,132 with $507,766 in food stamps issued.
c. There were 1,378 people on Medi-Cal
(However, 41.9% of those eligible are not enrolled.)
d. There were 379 people on County Medical
Services Program
e. There were 60 people on General Assistance
(8) For October, November and December 2008 Siskiyou
County Human Services had an average of 1,700 people
per month come through their reception doors. This is
an increase of 500 per month over our historic numbers.