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Ag department faces more cutsUp
to 30 percent of ODA’s general fund budget on
the chopping block
April 2, 2009
SALEM - The Oregon Department of Agriculture could cut in half its water quality program and eliminate its farm-to-school and renewable-energy positions as part of sobering budget cuts unveiled this week. The department developed the "cut list" to show lawmakers where it would slice up to 30 percent of its budget. Most believe how the state fares in its May revenue forecast will determine whether the department is forced to move forward with the cuts. On the cut list are the 2-year-old pesticide use reporting system and the department's portion of USDA's predator control program. The department's laboratory services also are dramatically scaled back under the cuts. Also on the cut list are the department's pesticide analytical response center and most of the department's noxious weed grant funding and soil and water conservation district support, two programs funded by state lottery dollars. Also, the department could deplete the remainder of its food safety reserves - a move that could advance agency plans to increase food safety license fees to as early as 2011. The depletion also will force the department to obtain resources from the legislative emergency board in the event of a large-scale food-safety outbreak. Overall, the department would cut 20 positions under the 30-percent reduction scenario. In the Water Resources Department, which is more heavily dependent on general funds, 45 of its 150 employees are at risk, said department spokeswoman Brenda Bateman. "The main impact will be a decrease in the services we are able to provide water users," Bateman said. "We would likely see the backlog of years past increase again in our water-right permitting programs for transfers, groundwater applications and surface water applications." Agencies were asked in lists submitted to Legislative Fiscal Office March 27 to show prospective cuts under budget scenarios ranging from 5 percent to 30 percent reductions of current funding levels. With federal stimulus and state reserves, lawmakers project they can meet a $3.2 billion shortfall, which was projected in the March revenue forecast, with across-the-board 20 percent cuts. If the shortfall reaches $5 billion, most lawmakers believe they will need to reduce some agency budgets by up to 30 percent. "We don't know what they are going to do, and we don't know until they actually approve our budget," ODA Director Katy Coba said. Coba said the department prioritized its programs based in part of a last-in, first-out provision. "In many cases, new programs to the agency are those that are cut first," Coba said. "We're really trying to protect our core agency programs." The ODA currently is operating on $16.5 million general fund budget for 2007-09. Gov. Ted Kulongoski in his budget recommended that be reduced to $14 million for the upcoming biennium. Under the 30 percent reduction level, the department is looking at about $12 million in state general funds. Most of the department's approximately $80 million overall budget is funded through fees. Other programs due for elimination under the 30 percent cut scenario include the department's threatened and endangered plant conservation program and county fair funding. Staff writer Mitch Lies is based in Salem. E-mail: mlies@capitalpress.com. |
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