EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Lane County officials say they would be grateful for an extension of federal timber payments but the amount under consideration will not cover the projected budget gap.
Legislation in Washington, D.C, would give the county just less than $17 million next year but much of it would be dedicated to work in forests. Other pieces would go to the county school fund for education and roads.
The Register-Guard (http://bit.ly/HdvXb2 ) reports the county general fund will be in line for $3.5 million that’s not already budgeted and the county will still face a gap of $11 million if the extension passes Congress.
Commissioner Faye Stewart says people don’t realize that even if federal payments are extended another year, the county’s budget situation won’t be much better.