Lane County legislators are hoping the federal government moves forward with extending timber payments. The U.S. House is voting this week on a two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The extension isn't a long term solution to the County's budget problems. Lane County Commissioner Sid Leiken thinks county and city municipalities should work together to develop a consistent economic develop message.
Leiken: "This is really a good area for either companies wanting to expand locally or new companies wanting to come into the state. And I think it's important just to keep a plan like that in place. And so we can attract new businesses to come here and in a sense expand our property tax base, and where we don't have to continually have to be reliant on Washington D.C. to come in and fill a hole for us."
The Secure Rural School's Act provides payments to timber-dependent counties. Of Oregon's 36 counties, 33 receive payments through the program.
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