Due to a $3.1 to
$4.4 billion
budget
shortfall, the
Oregon
Legislature has
requested state
agencies to
submit proposed
budgets with 30%
cuts to the
2009-2011
essential budget
level.
The Oregon Water
Resources
Department (WRD)
is faced with
the possibility
of cutting 45 of
140 staff
positions.
The Joint Ways
and Means
Committee is
holding a series
of public
hearings across
Oregon to gather
public input
before releasing
the draft
budget.
Please attend
the hearing
nearest you and
emphasize the
importance of
funding the WRD
for the sake of
Oregon’s rivers.
What:
Statewide Budget
Hearings (all
state agency
budgets)
When/Where:
Lincoln City,
April 20th
Portland, April
21st
Salem (Hood
River via video
link), April
23rd
Pendleton, April
25th
Ontario, April
25th
Bend, April 29th
Klamath Falls
(informal)
Ashland, April
30th
Eugene, May 1st
Talking Points*
:
- The base
budget of the
WRD should
remain intact to
the maximum
extent possible
- Please retain
the positions
that manage
existing water
rights and those
developing the
scientific
information
needed for sound
surface and
groundwater
management,
allocation and
reallocation
decisions
- Our economy
and environment
require at least
minimal water
management
capacity to
address the
challenges
presented by the
intersection of
climate change,
economic and
population
growth and the
needs of aquatic
habitat and
aquatic species.
- To the extent
the state is
forced to make
cuts, I urge the
Committee to
consider the
retention of the
18 key water
management,
science, field
service,
regulatory and
streamflow
restoration
positions, which
do not have
potential
alternative
funding (in
order of
priority):
1.
Watermaster
District 14
and the
Northwest
and Eastern
Region
Assistant
Watermasters
- three
positions
(positions
of critical
concern)
2. Ground
Water
Geologist
and Ground
Water
Hydrogeologist
- two
positions
(positions
of critical
concern)
3. The
Oregon Plan
Positions -
four
positions
4. The Water
Availability
Modeler
position
5. The
Salem and
Northwest
Region
Measurement
Technicians
and four
Hydrographic
Water
Measurement
Technician
positions
(Eastern,
Southwest,
South
Central,
North
Central) -
six
positions
6. The
Water Use
Reporting
Staff
Position
7. The
Information
Technology
Processor
Position
Thank
you in advance
for sharing your
opinion with the
Ways and Means
Committee! Your
opinion can
really affect
the budget
outcome for WRD
and make a huge
difference for
the future of
Oregon’s rivers
and streams.
*
Additional
information:
The WRD is
highly dependent
on general
funds. While
there are also
proposed cuts
for the more
traditional
water right
permitting and
transfer
positions listed
in the talking
points above,
there are
alternatives
such as fee
increases and
reimbursement
authorities that
are available to
help fund these
positions. The
management,
science, field
staff and
information
technology
positions, on
the other hand,
are entirely
dependent on the
General Fund for
funding.
Department
backers
currently are
circulating at
least two bills
that could
generate
additional funds
for the
department.
Senate Bill 740
seeks to
establish a
biennial fee of
$100 for
water-rights
administration.
The bill caps
the amount any
individual will
be responsible
to pay at $200.
Irrigation
districts and
other larger
entities would
be capped at
$1,200. If
enacted, SB 740
could generate
between $6
million and $8
million a
biennium. |
