STATE
MyEagleNews.com
Oregon State Police budget
cuts could shutter nine offices
and 39 positions in forensic laboratories
and pathology operations, including sus-
pending operations in Springfield and
Central Point. Hampton said the over-
all effect on forensic services would be
“severe.”
Another 39 would come out of head-
quarters support, internet technology,
central records, human resources and
the office of professional standards and
dispatch.
Hampton said 18 positions assigned
to training, procurement, fleet and
the Oregon State Athletic Commis-
sion would also fall to the budget
ax.
OSP woud remove all posi-
tions from its Dignitary Protec-
tion Unit and firearm investigative
unit.
The Oregon Fire Marshal Bureau
would have its budget cut, but not lose
any positions. It is funded by sources
other than the state general fund. Posi-
tions funded by Oregon Lottery and
tribal gaming revenue could face cuts
under other budget proposals.
Hampton said “scenarios are end-
less, complex and almost unimaginable
to fathom” amid the crisis. But he chose
to shutter offices and specific operations
rather than taking a “thin-soup” approach
and spread reductions across the entire
force.
“I would look to build this agency
around our core mission — the pro-
tection of people, property and natural
resources,” he said.
Hampton said the offices chosen for
closure were near enough to stations that
would remain open, making the reas-
signments less onerous for those forced
to move.
Hampton told OSP personnel that the
final outcome is unknown.
“Team, there is no crystal ball for this
job, but times like these deserve straight
talk,” he said. “If our agency will be
spared to a degree, or face more dras-
tic reductions, we likely won’t know for
many weeks.”
OSP and other departments must now
wait for the hard numbers to come down
from analysts.
“Now we do the hardest part, we wait
for something beyond our control — the
May 20th revenue forecast that will give
us an idea what type of scenarios we are
truly looking at,” he said.
“Hang in there and look out for each
other.”
By Gary A. Warner
For the Oregon Capital Bureau
The Oregon State Police would
make
the
“heartbreaking”
deci-
sion to lay off almost 200 person-
nel and close nine field offices under
a proposal submitted to Gov. Kate
Brown.
Brown has asked all state departments
for how they would cut their budgets by
17% over the next year, the maximum
the governor can order on her own.
The numbers are expected to be a
starting point for filling an expected $3
billion hole in revenue due to the eco-
nomic impact of the COVID-19 pan-
demic. The next budget forecast is set to
be released May 20 by the state Office of
Economic Analysis.
OSP would implement an estimated
$27 million reduction in its budget by
cutting 199 positions and closing nine
field offices in Prineville, La Pine,
McMinnville, St. Helens, Albany, Herm-
iston, Grants Pass, Government Camp
and Tillamook.
“This is a planning exercise — a
hypothetical, and this is not a layoff
notice,” said Oregon State Police Super-
intendent Travis Hampton in a “straight-
talk” statement to OSP staff released
Tuesday afternoon.
There was bipartisan support for keep-
ing the budget knife away from OSP.
“We are going to have to find a way
to fund essential services, and that defi-
nitely includes OSP,” said Sen. Betsy
Johnson, D-Scappoose, one of the chairs
of the Joint Ways & Means Committee
in the Legislature.
Rep. Jack Zika, R-Redmond, said
lawmakers in both parties believe
there needs to be a larger state police
force.
“This would be a steep cut —
too steep,” Zika said. “They just
hired a bunch of troopers — it costs
about $100,000 to train each one. It
doesn’t make sense to turn around and
lay them off. That’s a cut to public
safety.”
Hampton told OSP personnel that
Brown and the Legislature could also
tap into the state’s “rainy day” funds to
patch the budget gaps for OSP or other
departments.
But to meet the governor’s forecasting
request, OSP would reduce or suspend
199 positions, including 102 positions
in field operations and services bureaus
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
A13
Most Oregon counties are given green light
to lift many COVID-19 emergency limits
equivalent of stepping out on ice without truly
knowing how thick or thin it might be underfoot.
“Reopening any part of our state comes with
Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday morn- risk,” Brown said. “This virus is still very danger-
ing that most Oregon counties will be allowed ous. Until there is a reliable treatment or a vac-
cine, unfortunately, we will not be
to take the first step toward lifting
able to go back to life as we knew
emergency limits on activity put in
it.”
place since March by the COVID-
But the fact that large swaths of
19 pandemic.
the most populous areas won’t see
In a phone-in press conference
a change has Brown and state offi-
Thursday, Brown said she realized
cials worried that residents in those
that the decision to reopen some
areas could travel to areas such
but not all counties would be seen
as the Oregon coast, Deschutes
as too little by residents who want
County and cities like Eugene
to accelerate an economic rebound
where they can enjoy relative free-
and too much by those concerned
dom to eat, drink and socialize.
that it could lead to another spike
Pamplin Media Group photo That could expose the open coun-
in infections.
ties to outside infection from coun-
“But my job is to make hard Governor Kate Brown
ties that remain closed.
decisions, even when they are wears a mask May 7.
“We hope that people will stay
unpopular,” Brown said. “When it
close to home,” Brown said.
comes to the health and safety of
Oregon has recorded over 3,000
Oregonians, the buck stops here.”
Those getting the green light for partial reopen- positive cases and 137 deaths during the corona-
ing include Deschutes County in Central Oregon, virus pandemic. The state has recorded among
Lane and Linn counties in the Willamette Valley the lowest per capita infections and deaths in the
nation.
and most southern and Eastern Oregon counties.
Overall, about 1.4 million confirmed cases
While most of Oregon’s 36 counties qualified
to reopen, about 2.23 million residents — more of COVID-19 have been reported in the United
than half the state’s estimated 4.22 million pop- States, with 85,601 deaths through Wednesday.
ulation — live in counties not covered by Thurs- Worldwide, about 4.37 million have tested posi-
tive and 298,000 have died.
day’s decisions.
Oregon counties were invited last week to sub-
The state’s three largest counties — Mult-
nomah, Washington and Clackamas — did not mit plans to have some of the restrictions under
file a request, saying they were not yet prepared Brown’s March closure orders lifted.
They had to meet a list of standards set by the
to reopen. They represent nearly 1.8 million
Oregon Health Authority, including evidence that
residents.
Marion and Polk counties, with a combined the county could test for COVID-19 infections
population of about 417,000, had their applica- and had the staff available to trace the contacts of
tions rejected because of concerns over high infec- anyone with a positive result.
tion rates. Umatilla County, Jefferson County and
Each county also had to account for its ability
Morrow County applications were approved later to isolate positive cases, including homeless peo-
ple who did not have the resources to do so on
in the day Thursday.
Among Oregon’s five largest counties, only their own. Counties had to show they could pro-
one — Lane County at No. 5, which includes the vide medical care and hospital space if there was
another outbreak.
city of Eugene — can re-open.
The next step will be to see if the loosened
The patchwork of openings means that some
counties will see restaurants, salons, gyms and restrictions will not lead to a spike in cases. In
three weeks, each county’s infection statistics
other establishments returning to business.
Brown said the moves were a clear-eyed will be reviewed, including hospital use, ability
attempt to balance the sometimes competing to trace cases and adherence to social distancing
goals of public health and economic revival from guidelines. If successful, counties would be eligi-
ble in June or early July to move on to less restric-
a crisis that has put millions out of work.
“The shared goals of good public health and tive controls, which have not fully been detailed
a strong economy are intimately connected,” she yet. Larger group gatherings are one of the most
said. “It’s not an either/or scenario. As we reopen likely results, as well as allowing more visits to
parts of our economy, we know and expect that elder care facilities, which have been a major
there may be an uptick in new coronavirus cases.” infection point. Brown encouraged residents to
Brown said there will be no assured path retain the resolve and patience most have shown
to both ensuring public health and allowing the so far, so that the isolation that led to a less-than-
economy to recover in the foreseeable future. She expected impact on the state doesn’t go to waste
likened the moves announced Thursday as the with a resurgence.
By Gary A. Warner
For the Oregon Capital Bureau
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