Abstract:
This report represents part of a study being conducted by the Rural Studies Program at Oregon State University that will analyze the impacts of reduced Federal land payments to counties on the services provided by county government in Oregon, and on citizens, businesses and institutions such as schools. The study also examines several county government options for managing these impacts, and state and federal government options for reducing the negative impacts.
This report begins with a baseline description of the historical relationships between the Federal Government and local governments in Oregon – ownership and use of land and local revenues generated from public lands, including a review of the history of harvest revenue, federal payments to counties and local property tax burdens for the 36 Oregon counties. This is followed by a description of the “sea change” in the relationship associated with the restrictions on land use initiated in the 1980s on forest and rangeland leading to PL 106-393, and finishes with a summary of the current status of the reauthorization of federal payments.
Description:
Introduction 1
Historical relationship between the Federal government and local governments in Oregon 1
A. Ownership and use of land 1
B. History of harvest revenue, federal payments to counties and local property tax burdens 3
1. Federal payments to counties 3
2. Harvest Revenues 4
3. Local property tax burdens on 36 Oregon counties 6
“Sea change” in the relationship between the Federal government and local governments in Oregon 9
Reauthorization of Federal payments to Oregon counties 11
Conclusion 15
References 16
Appendix A: Legislation related to land ownership and use 21
Appendix B: Relevant environmental legislation 27
Appendix C: Legislation related to Federal Forest Payments 30
Appendix D: State Legislation affecting Property Taxes 33
