Potential OSP Gamie Cuts

[fishboys]

The legislators are looking at making cuts to the OSP game budget. There is a public hearing from 4:30 to 6:30 pm this Thursday. Please either show up and voice your concern, or contact your legislator via email or phone before Thursday of this week to save out game wardens. Legislators are looking at two plans to cut funds from the OSP. Both result in major cuts to the department.

I couldnt figure out how to attach the maps showing potentially where the officers would be cut. I tried to make an attachment to the post showing what these cuts would look like. Look at the maps on the attachment and you will see potentially what it would look like for officers being removed from the field.

Please talk to your legislator and tell them there are other places to cut from the budget.




OPTION #1

Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division
$2.3 Million General Fund Reduction Effective July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2011
A $2.3 million reduction in the OSP Fish and Wildlife Division’s general fund portion the next biennium
eliminates the Division’s general fund budget by half. Fish and Wildlife troopers are fully trained Oregon
State Police officers who are able to respond to any emergency and enforce all state laws. These officers
typically patrol in remote areas where other law enforcement is not readily available.
Most of the Division’s supervisors are currently assigned to the General Fund portion of the Division’s
overall budget. If the Division’s General Fund were to be eliminated the Division would reassign some
of the Division’s supervisors to the Division’s Other Funds. The reassignment of supervisors to Other
Funds will ultimately result in troopers with the least amount of seniority being moved out of these same
Other Funds. The end result of this action will be that those officers with the least amount of seniority
will be either laid off or reassigned to other Divisions within the Department per the labor agreement in
place with the OSPOA.
A $2.3 million reduction effective July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, will result in:

•

The elimination of 4 sergeant positions; and,

•

The elimination of 13 trooper positions.

The reduction of 4 sergeants and 13 troopers will have an effect on Oregon’s local communities:

(See Attached Map)
•

Coastal Fish and Wildlife troopers will be reduced by 3 troopers or 12.5%, which will

impact the Division’s ability to provide enforcement and ensure voluntary compliance for marine

resources, including shellfish, marine fisheries, and a $350 million commercial fish industry.
Without voluntary compliance in the $350 million commercial fish industry there will be no fair
or equitable sharing of the resources which is needed to ensure that these natural resources which
generate revenue is protected now and in the future to ensure that Oregon’s coastal communities
are kept viable and stable in the future. Oregon’s coastal communities rely heavily on tourists
that come to their communities to harvest these resources, and also on the commercial fishing
fleets. These stocks of fish can take generations to recover. Community impacts will specifically
occur at Astoria, Coos Bay and Gold Beach.
•

Fish and Wildlife Troopers assigned to the I-5 Corridor will be reduced by 6 troopers or

18%, which will severely impact the Division’s ability to provide fish and wildlife enforcement

for Oregon’s largest population base where the state experiences the majority of issues
surrounding threatened salmon, waterfowl, and environmental concerns. Community impacts will
specifically occur at Roseburg, Central Point, Portland, Springfield, Salem and Albany.
•

Central/Eastern Oregon Fish and Wildlife Troopers will be reduced by 2 Troopers or 6%,

will impact the Division’s ability to provide enforcement in the specific areas of reduction.

Compliance rates for wildlife units within this region are already lower than statewide averages.
Parts of Eastern Oregon rely on their local Fish and Wildlife officer to provide general law
enforcement for their communities. This reduction will also impact the Division’s ability to
address Columbia River fisheries issues and an already declining mule deer population.
Community impacts will specifically occur at The Dalles and Enterprise.
•

The Division’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), consisting of 2 Troopers and a Sergeant,

will be eliminated, which will eliminate the Division’s ability to investigate long-term and

complex cases dealing with endangered species, repeat offenders, and high-profile cases. The
SIU has successfully brought cases to prosecution resulting in penalties issued up to $800,000 for
a single prosecution. Division troopers typically do not have time to investigate such cases.
The statewide effects to the Division’s core mission of protecting Oregon’s natural resources by
ensuring voluntary compliance will not be met. Without voluntary compliance the management
objectives set by ODFW to ensure fair and equitable sharing of Oregon’s natural resources will not
be met. Often times management objectives are set for entire species based a single subspecies that
may be threatened or endangered. Some of these species are very sensitive and can take
generations to recover.
•

14,248 anglers will not be checked which ensures through voluntary compliance that sensitive or

threatened species are not taken or over harvested to allow continued opportunity in the future.

•

5,369 hunters will not be checked which ensures through voluntary compliance that threatened or

endangered species are not taken or over harvested to allow continued opportunity in the future.

•

2,587 boaters will not be checked to ensure boater safety and compliance. Every year several

recreationist loose their lives in Oregon waters because of a lack of education or non compliance.

The statewide effects or services to Oregon citizens will be:
•

182 vehicle crashes will not be investigated

•

482 disabled motorists will not be contacted

•

1,839 fewer hours of patrol time, or traffic enforcement, on Oregon’s federal/state/county

highways while the Fish and Wildlife Officer travels these roadways to and from remote areas

•

910 criminal complaints will not be investigated

•

7,046 citizens will not be contacted regarding non-enforcement contacts such as providing
information to tourists and recreationists.

OPTION #2

Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division

$950,000 cut effective March 1, 2009
A $950,000 reduction in the OSP Fish and Wildlife Division budget effective March 1, 2009, through
June 30, 2009, will completely eliminate the Division’s General Fund budget for the remainder of this
biennium. Fish and Wildlife troopers are fully trained Oregon State Police officers who are able to
respond to any emergency and enforce all state laws. These officers typically patrol in remote areas
where other law enforcement is not readily available.
Most of the Division’s supervisors are currently assigned to the General Fund portion of the Division’s
overall budget. If the Division’s General Fund were to be eliminated the Division would reassign some
of the Division’s supervisors to the Division’s Other Funds. The reassignment of supervisors to Other
Funds will ultimately result in troopers with the least amount of seniority being moved out of these same
Other Funds. The end result of this action will be that those officers with the least amount of seniority
will be either laid off or reassigned to other Divisions within the Department per the labor agreement in
place with the OSPOA.
A $950,000 reduction effective March 1, 2009, through June 30, 2009, will result in:
•

The elimination of 6 sergeant positions; and,

•

The elimination of 28 trooper positions.

The reduction of 6 sergeants and 28 troopers will have an effect on Oregon’s local communities:

(See Attached Map)
•

Coastal Fish and Wildlife troopers will be reduced by 7 Troopers or 29%, which will

severely impact the Division’s ability to provide enforcement and ensure voluntary compliance

for marine resources, including shellfish, marine fisheries, and a $350 million commercial fish
industry. Without voluntary compliance in the $350 million Commercial fish industry there will
be no fair or equitable sharing of the resources which is needed to ensure that these natural
resources which generate revenue is protected now and in the future to ensure that Oregon’s
coastal communities are kept viable and stable in the future. Oregon’s coastal communities rely
heavily on tourists that come to their communities to harvest these resources, and also on the
commercial fishing fleets. These stocks of fish can take generations to recover.
•

Fish and Wildlife Troopers assigned to the I-5 Corridor will be reduced by 10 Troopers or

28%, which will severely impact the Division’s ability to provide fish and wildlife enforcement

for Oregon’s largest population base where the state experiences the majority of issues
surrounding threatened salmon, waterfowl, and environmental concerns.
•

Central/Eastern Oregon Fish and Wildlife Troopers will be reduced by 6 Troopers or 17%,

which will severely impact the Division’s ability to provide enforcement for Central Oregon,

where the state is experiencing its fastest population growth. Compliance rates for wildlife units
within this area are already lower than statewide averages. Parts of Eastern Oregon rely on their
local Fish and Wildlife officer to provide general law enforcement for their communities. This
reduction will also impact the Division’s ability to address Columbia River fisheries issues and an
already declining mule deer population.
•

The Division’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), consisting of 2 Troopers and a Sergeant,

will be eliminated, which will eliminate the Division’s ability to investigate long-term and

complex cases dealing with endangered species, repeat offenders, and high-profile cases. The
SIU has successfully brought cases to prosecution resulting in penalties issued up to $800,000 for
a single prosecution. Division troopers typically do not have time to investigate such cases.
•

The Division’s Aircraft Program, consisting of 3 Pilots, will be eliminated, which will

eliminate the ability to provide aircraft support for the entire state. This will eliminate the

Division’s ability to effectively apprehend violators who unlawfully use spot lights at night to
take big game animals. It will also force the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to
hire non-department aircraft and pilots in order to complete their mission. Based on the
Division’s 2007-2008 activity information this will cost ODFW $640,000.
The statewide effects to the Division’s core mission of protecting Oregon’s natural resources by
ensuring voluntary compliance will not be met. Without voluntary compliance the management
objectives set by ODFW to ensure fair and equitable sharing of Oregon’s natural resources will not
be met. Often times management objectives are set for entire species based a single subspecies that
may be threatened or endangered. Some of these species are very sensitive and can take
generations to recover.
•

5,124 anglers will not be checked which ensures through voluntary compliance that sensitive or

threatened species are not taken or over harvested to allow continued opportunity in the future.

•

1,932 hunters will not be checked which ensures through voluntary compliance that threatened or

endangered species are not taken or over harvested to allow continued opportunity in the future.

•

928 boaters will not be checked to ensure boater safety and compliance. Every year several

recreationist loose their lives in Oregon waters because of a lack of education or non compliance.

The statewide effects or services to Oregon citizens will be:
•

56 vehicle crashes will not be investigated

•

168 disabled motorists will not be contacted

•

658 fewer hours of patrol time, or traffic enforcement, on Oregon’s federal/state/county highways

while the Fish and Wildlife Officer travels these roadways to and from remote areas

•

336 criminal complaints will not be investigated

•

2,520 citizens will not be contacted regarding non-enforcement contacts such as providing
information to tourists and recreationists.

[CombinationLicense]

Interesting information - alarming too! Is it possible for you to post the source of that document or point me to a link? PM is cool if you want.

"CL"

[Rank Amateur]

That is sad news, and that is the trouble with general fund monies. If I remember right the wildlife side of the trooper coin is all license and tag fee supported, but the fishery side has the general fund money. Frankly it doesn't matter since our troopers are fish and game.

What if the sportsmen told the legislature that they would support the license fee hike if the trooper funding remained intact. Actually OSP staffing has been one of the top concerns reported at ODF&W meetings in the past. How about a conservation stamp like Wyoming, $5 and it goes to OSP?

[baltz526]

it makes me sick to read this. the state workers most needed get cut, while office workers sit around drinking coffee at desk jobs with no real work to do. be very glad i'm not the govenor, you political office workers

[GDuck]

I wish someone could explain something to me: we do not have a sales tax in this State. We have an income tax, a gas tax (used to fund OSP but doesn't anymore), property tax, and we have license/tag fees.....and doesn't Pittman Robertson kick in here too? Economy or not, what's changed here? Where is the loss of revenue?? Corporate income tax??

G

[leadeyedbugger]

rank amateur.....we have told them that we would support higher fees to pay for our fish and game cops. As i remember it the big meetings this last year all i heard was please support higher licenses and fee's, that way we can get more fish and game cops. We got the higher fee's....and state fish and game cops get screwed......and we all suffer for it.

[BrianMaguire]

What I don't understand is why can't the fines go back to the department, they go to the county general funds.

[Bait O' Eggs]

The sad part is this will affect the general fund in another negative way. With all the less officers I dont know why a guy would even need to buy a tag and license, not much chance of getting checked. That will cut the general budget even more with that lost revenue.

Its a good time to be an outlaw, just go fish 2 or 3 rods, kill an extra deer to two and the odds just got a whole better of not getting caught.

Of course do all this with OEM tire sizes if HB2186 passes. Wouldnt want somebody running around with a better looking or better preforming tire size. Our legislators live with their head in a dark place.

[MsOutdrs]

Originally Posted by baltz526

it makes me sick to read this. the state workers most needed get cut, while office workers sit around drinking coffee at desk jobs with no real work to do. be very glad i'm not the govenor, you political office workers

Working government budgets for approx 22 years, the people who should be cut are usually the people who have the authority to decide where to cut. Thus, we get what we get. If they cut police services, it gets more attention from the public then if they cut what we all know needs to be cut. (like all those human services funds going to support illegals..and I'm not biased...except against ILLEGALS. Immigrants are great.)

Sorry, I don't belong in the "hunting" forum...I'm a fisherwoman...but this hits close to home. I have relatives in OSP.

[Bucolic buffalo]

And we thought that poaching and non-compliance of wildlife laws was bad now, just wait. This is sad. Don't the higher fees start in 2010? This whole thing is just scary. Will this mean that if we call the Tip line all we will get is a recording saying to call back in two or three years while the wildlife and natural resources get ***** and pillaged?

[Sixes]

There is alot of crime that is already going on in the woods, and now it just got a whole lot easier to be a criminal in Coos County. The SO has been cut and now OSP is being cut back. Where does it end when there is no more wild life in the woods or fish in the rivers. Maybe some day the brains that be in charge will figure out what is right and what is wrong. Hopefully it won't be to late when they do wake up. There is already a lot of poaching going on it is only going to get worse.

Sixes

[RiverRogue]

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

What I don't understand is why can't the fines go back to the department, they go to the county general funds.

Yes the fine does go to the county, However there is a value placed on the animals by ODFW and during the court process, the defendant can be assessed the fee which goes back to ODFW. For instance, a buck deer is $250, I think. The problem is getting the DA's and judges to impose these conditions. The "TIP" program is sometimes reimbursed as well, if it was utilized in the reporting of the act. I also believe, there is a bill being introduced that will raise these fees to return funds back to ODFW. These & more questions can be answered Feb.19th at the OHA Capitol Chapter general meeting where the OHA lobbyist, AL Elkins and Asst. Dir. Curt Melcher of ODFW are scheduled to speak. 7pm Spinaker Point, 2300 McGilchrist St SE. Salem.

[CombinationLicense]

Here's the documents I received from ODFW today. I uploaded them in PDF format so they can be downloaded for distribution. We really need to get the word out and comments generated from the sporting community.

Edit: I should mention that this is the same information that's posted above - just in downloadable form.

"CL"

[Benny]

Originally Posted by CombinationLicense

Here's the documents I received from ODFW today. I uploaded them in PDF format so they can be downloaded for distribution. We really need to get the word out and comments generated from the sporting community.

"CL"

Projections through 2011? Bummer to be on staff and know you might be that guy/gal in a couple years.
We sure are running into hard times here. My heart goes out to those and their families who worked hard at their jobs and were let go.

[Fur n Feathers]

Why would ODFW have those documents? They have nothing to do with OSP?

[Old Soldier]

I hope to see many of you at 4:30 hearing room F at the Capitol on Feb. 12 to let the legislators know how you feel about this. All this talk here does little good. Not sure the following will either but have to try. If you can not be there I hope you write letters to all the legislators in your district. In fact I hope you write all of them and the Governor as well. These cuts make me sick also just like someone on this thread said. I plan on trying to do something about it.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by Fur n Feathers

Why would ODFW have those documents? They have nothing to do with OSP?

OSP fish and game receives most of it's funding from ODF&W.

[SalmonSeason]

Originally Posted by leadeyedbugger

rank amateur.....we have told them that we would support higher fees to pay for our fish and game cops. As i remember it the big meetings this last year all i heard was please support higher licenses and fee's, that way we can get more fish and game cops. We got the higher fee's....and state fish and game cops get screwed......and we all suffer for it.

and you were surprised...

[sorefoot]

"OSP fish and game receives most of it's funding from ODF&W."

It's actually less than half. ODFW is probably the single largest contributor but their contribution is something like 48% of the total. Other inputs include General Fund, Marine Board, State Parks, Lottery Dollars, etc.