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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=865340921-25092008>ODF Private Forests News
members:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=865340921-25092008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=865340921-25092008>The Oregon Department of
Forestry posted a web feature story this week to help explain the increases
in assessments that many Oregon landowners will see on their 2009 property tax
statement in October.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=865340921-25092008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=865340921-25092008><FONT face=Arial>The Oregon Department of
Forestry recently provided counties with their wildfire assessment rates on
forestland for 2009. These rates reflect rising firefighting costs and a
restructured wildfire funding system approved by the 2007 Legislature -
including a surcharge on improved lots, and payback of a one-time loan to cover
deficits incurred in fighting 14 large fires over the past three years. Forest
landowners and owners of one or more improved lots in forest protection
districts will see these rates reflected on property tax statements due
this November. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=865340921-25092008><FONT face=Arial>Please feel free to forward
the web link to landowners who may benefit from knowing more about the issue or
may have questions --</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=865340921-25092008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><A
href="http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/AGENCY_AFFAIRS/Surcharge_Feature_Story.shtml">http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/AGENCY_AFFAIRS/Surcharge_Feature_Story.shtml</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=865340921-25092008><FONT face=Arial>Kevin
Weeks</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=865340921-25092008><FONT face=Arial>ODF Agency Affairs /
Private Forests Division</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=865340921-25092008><FONT face=Arial>(503)
945-7427</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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