OSP F & W Trooper Not Cut for Now

[Old Soldier]

F&W Troops,
It is very important that as supervisors you get this message to
everyone under your command ASAP. Please do not just simply forward
this email on without a follow up conversation. I want the field to
know we are passing the news on to them wether it is bad or good.
The Co-Chairs on Ways and Means have released their recommended budget
this afternoon. OSP took some significant hits in some areas, but was
able to maintain most of the core services we offer.
Please refer to the email sent to the field by the Superintendent
regarding specific detail where the Department will be receiving some of
the cuts. In regards to the F&W budget the Division was left whole and
we will not be looking at any cuts this biennium. If you recall one of
the budget cut exercises the Division was asked to put together was a
cut of $950,000 from our Divisions General Fund which was to take effect
March 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008 which eliminated 6 Sergeants and 28
Troopers. The bottom line is the mentioned cut is not going to occur.
The Ways and Means Committee will soon start to focus their efforts on
how they will balance the 2009-2011 budget. The Division's exercise
regarding the 2009-2011 budget was a reduction of 2.3 million dollars
from the Division's General Fund Budget which equates to 4 Sergeants and
13 Troopers.
My message to you today is to please continue to provide a quality
product to the citizens of Oregon in the same professional manner you
have shown in the past. The Division has a lot of friends who came and
spoke on our behalf in front of the Joint Ways and Means Committee last
week. Those same friends and others continued to meet with their
Legislators throughout this week. These same friends will continue to
work for us. Be sure and continue to foster those relationships because
they are very important. We may not know what our budget looks like for
the next biennium until the end of June.
While the Division was left whole don't forget these cuts were absorbed
from other areas within the Department and were significant. We have a
lot of work left to do. Please focus on what you can control and move
forward in a positive manner and stay safe.
Thanks for all you do,
Walt Markee, Captain
503-934-0226

[Hunt'nFish]

Great news......but my heart & prayers go out to those Troopers, and thier families, that will make the sacrifice.
Hunt'nFish

[CombinationLicense]

Excellent News!

Now we have to rally the troops to keep them funded for the 2009-2011 biennium.

"CL"

[Teeb]

Boy, you don't hear good news like this everyday ----- Seriously tough economic times ..... and the budget of an entire Division of a major police agency is not going to be cut! It speaks well of the overall effort and dedication of the Game Division of OSP.

Maybe them folks controlling the purse strings in Salem are finally beginning to truly appreciate the value that our wildlife has to everyone in Oregon. This positive turn of events makes the hearing next week in Salem all that more important. I gotta talk to my boss and try to get some time off to go!

[Don Becker]

Originally Posted by Old Soldier

. . . The Division has a lot of friends who came and spoke on our behalf in front of the Joint Ways and Means Committee lastweek. Those same friends and others continued to meet with their
Legislators throughout this week. These same friends will continue to
work for us. Be sure and continue to foster those relationships because
they are very important. . . . Walt Markee, Captain 503-934-0226

I believe OHA was very much involved with this - - probably other groups also. Perhaps we have yet another chance to make a difference HERE. Don

[Bait O' Eggs]

Well that kinda sticks a fork in my planned June elk hunting trip across Oregon

[Fur n Feathers]

Originally Posted by Bait O' Eggs

Well that kinda sticks a fork in my planned June elk hunting trip across Oregon

You can still go, might help generate more revenue for the state.