[ODFW-News] Legislature's budget-balancing plan keeps hatcheries open

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Ann Snyder (503) 872-5264 x5363=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002

Legislature's budget-balancing plan keeps hatcheries open,
but more cuts scheduled if voters reject
temporary income tax increase

PORTLAND - The Oregon Legislature today approved a budget-balancing plan =
that eliminates the state's current $482 million General Fund deficit and =
keeps open the four Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife hatcheries =
slated for closure.

The plan makes approximately $44 million in specified cuts to state =
agencies, borrows $150 million from future tobacco lawsuit payments, and =
refers a $313 million temporary personal and corporate income tax increase =
to voters for approval in January.=20

The complicated budget agreement actually reduces ODFW's General Fund =
monies by $427,000, which is the cost of operating the four targeted =
hatcheries for the remainder of the 2001-2003 biennium. That reduction, =
however, will be filled by shifting $427,000 in Other Funds from the =
department's anticipated ending balance. Good fishing license sales, =
conservative spending for the last few months and careful budgeting for =
the rest of the biennium should enable ODFW to avoid cutting any programs. =
The department originally had been directed to reduce its budget by a =
total of $877,000.=20

"I am very pleased with the impressive amount of support we received =
during this process from the public, from so many legislators, from =
Governor Kitzhaber, and from the Legislative Fiscal Office," said ODFW =
Director Lindsay Ball. "We owe this outcome to the combined efforts of =
many people who worked hard in support of the agency's hatchery programs."

However, Ball noted, more budget cuts could be on the horizon. If voters =
reject the temporary income tax increase in January, $95 million would be =
cut from schools, and an additional $215 million would be cut from state =
agencies. ODFW's share of those cuts would mean an additional $624,000 in =
cuts from the current budget. A continuing economic slump also could have =
negative consequences.

"This budget agreement suspends the immediate hatchery closures and allows =
us some time to discuss long-term funding for hatcheries and other =
programs. It's one small step, but we have a lot more work to do," said =
Ball. "If voters reject the tax increase and if Oregon's economy continues =
to slip, we could be faced with recurring budget instability. It's time to =
discuss just what kinds of fish and wildlife services and programs =
Oregonians want, and how those activities should be funded in the =
long-term."

Ball noted that he will take those discussions to the public.

"We will make decisions about ODFW programs and funding in an open fashion =
that involves the public," he said. "It's important that people have the =
opportunity to participate in the process and have their say. If it means =
holding a series of town hall meetings throughout the state, then that's =
what we'll do."

In the meantime, the news for anglers is good. The hatcheries are staying =
open.

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Information and Education=20
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528