the microphone relatively close to you and speak up, we would real- 

 ly appreciate it. 



STATEMENT OF SUE KUPILLAS, JACKSON COUNTY 

 COMMISSIONER, OREGON 



Ms. KUPILLAS. Thank you, Chairman Hansen and members of 

 the Subcommittee. I am Sue Kupillas, second term Commissioner 

 serving in Jackson County. 



The Federal Government exerts an overwhelming influence on 

 our citizens and our communities. The BLM manages 449,000 acres 

 in Jackson County alone and about half of our county budget his- 

 torically has been revenues from timber harvest on Federal lands. 



These receipts have funded an array of services. The U.S. Forest 

 Service contributed to roads and schools. O&C general fund reve- 

 nues supported the criminal justice system, administrative serv- 

 ices, and small contributions that sustained human service non- 

 profits, as well as things like OSU extension service and 4-H pro- 

 grams, the Water Masters Office, et cetera. The county has 

 downsized, combined departments, eliminated functions, and 

 privatized, anticipating the shortfall with changing forest manage- 

 ment practices. We wrote the book on reinventing government. 



While Jackson County is putting two tax levies on the September 

 17 ballot, the amount asked for will not make up for the decline 

 in O&C funds. If the O&C revenue would disappear tomorrow, 

 Jackson County would no longer be able to support a county crimi- 

 nal justice system. Of the $11.4 million of current safety net from 

 O&C, $10.3 million is dedicated to criminal justice. The people of 

 Jackson County voted in support of a criminal justice levy to meet 

 increased demands. As these safety net dollars from O&C are 

 ratcheted down, we must ratchet down the criminal justice system. 

 This is in a county that has one of the highest crime statistics in 

 Oregon and one of the fastest-growing crime problems in the re- 

 gion. 



Also, in the addendum attached, you will see a list of cuts in 

 services that will happen if the proposed library and general serv- 

 ices do not pass September 17. One model is a family service cen- 

 ter, a model program for the State of Oregon and the nation. It 

 brings together Federal, State, and county services, as well as the 

 local school district. The mission is development of an integrated 

 system to better serve the families, to bring self-empowering serv- 

 ices to people willing to share the responsibility for themselves and 

 each other. It is one of the most successful projects in the State. 

 Many of these families are dislocated timber workers. As a result 

 of the budget cuts and decline in O&C revenues, Jackson County 

 will no longer be participating in this Rogue Family Center pro- 

 gram. 



Every one of the services listed will have cumulative damaging 

 effects on the social structure and economics of Jackson County. 

 When timber revenues decline, social systems decline, family wage 

 jobs decline, crime rises, and criminal justice systems are reduced. 

 It just does not work. 



Another impact of the dollars allocated to address problems cre- 

 ated by the President's forest plan on Jackson County and other 

 counties is the Jobs in the Woods program. A memorandum from 



