[ODF_Private_Forests] ODF Budget and Organizational Update

[WEEKS Kevin]

Private Forests News list members:

The Oregon Department of Forestry's Executive Team sent this update message to staff on Friday regarding budget realignments, layoffs, economic stimulus and realignment of ODF's organizational structure in the near future.

Kevin Weeks
Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division
Oregon Department of Forestry
(503) 945-7427


________________________________
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 9:05 AM
Subject: Budget and Organizational Update

Hi everyone...we've started a new phase in our response to the recession - one in which the impacts on our people and our programs are becoming all too real - and we wanted to provide an update for you today on a few important points.

Through the very difficult layoff and bumping processes, some colleagues will move to different jobs, and others, unfortunately, will leave the department. Change and uncertainty will continue for some time, as employees exercise their bumping rights, and as the Legislature works toward decisions in the next few weeks that will shape our 2009-2011 budget.

Ultimately, as we adjust to new staffing levels and a new emphasis on work funded by stimulus dollars, we'll also see changes to our organizational structure.

As we've mentioned in past messages, we felt that we needed to go ahead with the layoffs in State Forests now, in response to the sharp drop in stumpage prices, a result of the decline in the housing market.

Still ahead, however, are the Legislature's budget decisions for ODF and other state agencies. Those decisions will determine what further reductions will be necessary for us.

Based on the budget framework released last week by the co-chairs of the Legislature's Ways and Means Committee, it appears the General Fund reduction for the agency overall could be as much as 15 percent, all taken in the Private Forests Program. However, we don't yet know those details.

Opportunities through economic stimulus.

It appears that stimulus dollars will provide some replacement employment opportunities. Toward that end, our recruitment for NRS 1's and NRS 2's, who would oversee projects funded with stimulus payments, remains open.

We don't have details at this point about these positions, such as how many may be available or where they may be located. In the coming weeks we expect to learn more about how much stimulus money we can expect and about how the money is to be spent.

Through our recruitment, we hope to create a pool of applicants that we can draw on as we are able to put employment opportunities together. We encourage employees affected by layoffs or bumping to consider this option. More information is available from Human Resources.

Charting a new future.

The reductions we're now facing, and a growing emphasis on fuels reduction and other types of projects funded with stimulus dollars, will change our organizational structure and alter our responsibilities, with some positions potentially focused specifically on grant projects.

Accordingly, at the executive level, we're starting to develop a reallocation plan - an effort to make the best use of the resources available to us. Separate from the layoff process, this is a look ahead, to an organizational structure that's best suited to the work that we will be doing.

This process has just begun, and we'll keep you updated as we move forward.

In closing.

Even though much is changing and we must adjust to a period of reduced resources, your work continues to make a difference. Fire season is a time when many Oregonians have a chance to see that first-hand. But it's true every day of the year. We will do all we can to provide opportunities for you to continue that great service.

As always, please don't hesitate to ask your supervisor, or any of us, if you have questions.

Thanks again for your excellent work.


Clark Seely                                                                 Paul Bell
Associate State Forester                                             Chief, Fire Protection Division

Nancy Hirsch                                                             Jim Paul
Chief, State Forests Division                                      Chief, Private Forests Division
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