Senate Axes Rural Counties Timber Payments and tax breaks for a wide range of clean energy industries from the Energy Bill.

Many States in the South and West are affected by this, by the removal of the Timber Program as well as the removal of the tax incentives for Energy Efficiency. 

Here in Jackson and Josephine Counties in Southern Oregon, we've already seen some of the affects, affects such as the layoff of Josephine County police officers and the canceling of needed projects.

In July 2007, all Jackson County libraries were forced to close down when the plug was pulled on the Federal Timber Program, representing $23 million in funds to Jackson County that are to offset the loss of property tax dollars on federally owned lands in Oregon while the federal government profits from the harvesting of timber on those lands. Bond measures were hurriedly thrown together to replace the loss of those funds, but voters did not pass these measures and the libraries were closed. Oregon's 50-50 rule requires that a majority of voters must turn out on a money measure AND a majority of those voters must support it in order for a tax to be levied.

In November, a contract between Jackson County and LSSI - Library Systems and Services LLC - came to pass, and our libraries re-opened, with more automated systems and reduced hours of operation, reducing the number of employees needed. Efforts still need to be made to replace the Timber Program funds that our counties have been incorporating in to their budgets since 1937.

So, once again the time has come to contact our Senators to let them know they need to pass the 4 year extension of this timber program. Or, get involved with affected Counties and be a part of the process of finding alternate sources for this funding so our schools, police, and other services are not cut back any further!