ODFW release, April 5th

[Jennie@ifish]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young 503/872-5264 ext 5356 Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us

For Immediate Release April 5, 2002

ODFW Hosts Town Hall Meetings on Proposed Budget

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of town hall meetings around the state in April and early May to gain public input on the agency's proposed 2003-2005 budget.
The proposed budget developed by the agency and an external budget advisory committee calls for carrying the same level of staffing and programs currently in place. To provide this service, however, ODFW must make up an estimated $8.4 million funding shortfall. Three license and fee increase options that generate from $3.5 million to $8.2 million are being proposed.
At each town hall meeting, agency staff will present the proposed budget and gather public comments that will be used to help refine the budget before presenting it to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) in June. Written comments on the proposed budget are welcome within two weeks following each public meeting and should be sent to ODFW, 2501 SW First Avenue, Portland OR 97207.
Public comments will also be heard at the Commission meeting on Friday, June 7 in Portland. A budget approved by the Commission will be submitted to the Governor for consideration by the 2003 Legislature.
The public meetings will all be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the following locations and dates:
* Medford: Monday, April 22, ODFW Field Office, 1495 E Gregory Road, Central Point.

-More-
ODFW Town Hall Meetings, Continued

* Roseburg: Tuesday, April 23, ODFW SW Regional Office, 4192 N Umpqua Hwy.

* Bend: Wednesday, April 24, Central Oregon Community College, Hitchcock Auditorium, Pioneer Hall - Building 17.

* Newport: Thursday, April 25, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Room 9.

* LaGrande: Monday, April 29, Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Center, Room 201.

* Portland: Tuesday, April 30, ODFW Headquarters, Commission Room, 2501 SW First Avenue.

* Salem: Wednesday, May 1, Chemeketa Community College, 4061 Winema Place NE, Building 50, Room 155.

* Coos Bay: Thursday, May 2, North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Avenue, North Bend.

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Anne Pressentin Young
Acting Administrator, Information & Education Division
Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5356
anne.m.pressentin@state.or.us