This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

Well the counties finances are saved for another year.

The President signed the Ira War funding bill which also included a few billion more than just for the funding of the troops.

Among the items attached was $425 million for counties harmed by reduced revenues from timber production on federal lands.  Among that amount was some $15 million that goes to Klamath County.

Hopefully that will mean  that the 44 bed complex at the jail which they anticipated closing under the old funds will now be reinstated in the budget.

Also….funds for the health services will also be re included in the budget.

However, we have to agree with Mike Long who said:  “We don’t know if we’re ever going to get it again.  It is indicated that 10 million will go to the county road fund and two million to the schools, but hopefully the jail and sheriff needs and the public health needs will demand top priority in the re-budgeting.

While a great many other projects were jammed into the war funding bill, the one that really surprised me was that for 60 million for salmon fishermen, tribes, and processors in California and Oregon that have been

harmed by lowered Klamath River flows that have wrecked salmon runs.

Whatever happened to some federal money for the poor irrigators who didn’t get any water one year and many lost their farms or were near bankruptcy.   They have filed a suit against the federal government but no one knows its status.

In the first place the Salmon runs are dependent on a number of things.  Yes….the waters of Upper Klamath Lake are important, but so are the waters of the Trinity River.  Last year they complained of a giant salmon kill, blaming it on the lack of adequate water, but only to find later that it was from another cause.   Parts of the ocean were closed also to Salmon fisherman last year.

Such funding raises lots of questions about who and how and what for the funds will be distributed.    The 60 million should certainly include the Klamath Basin farmers.

All in all the question of common sense prevailed in funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The President is to be commended for standing firm and not permitting the Democrats to wave the white flag and surrender in Iraq to the terrorists.

Now….however, Klamath County, particularly must revamp their budgets so that they don’t have to go through an annual prayer session to get the federal government to give them money

As a thought, though, it might be fantasy or realistic for the county to make an effort to purchase the Winema National Forest from the Federal government.   After all, it has more acreage in it than all the rest of the county acreage combined.

County purchase is an idea that should be explored now.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.

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Text Box:   This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE. Well the counties finances are saved for another year. The President signed the Ira War funding bill which also included a few billion more than just for the funding of the troops. Among the items attached was $425 million for counties harmed by reduced revenues from timber production on federal lands.  Among that amount was some $15 million that goes to Klamath County. Hopefully that will mean  that the 44 bed complex at the jail which they anticipated closing under the old funds will now be reinstated in the budget. Also….funds for the health services will also be re included in the budget. However, we have to agree with Mike Long who said:  “We don’t know if we’re ever going to get it again.  It is indicated that 10 million will go to the county road fund and two million to the schools, but hopefully the jail and sheriff needs and the public health needs will demand top priority in the re-budgeting. While a great many other projects were jammed into the war funding bill, the one that really surprised me was that for 60 million for salmon fishermen, tribes, and processors in California and Oregon that have been harmed by lowered Klamath River flows that have wrecked salmon runs. Whatever happened to some federal money for the poor irrigators who didn’t get any water one year and many lost their farms or were near bankruptcy.   They have filed a suit against the federal government but no one knows its status. In the first place the Salmon runs are dependent on a number of things.  Yes….the waters of Upper Klamath Lake are important, but so are the waters of the Trinity River.  Last year they complained of a giant salmon kill, blaming it on the lack of adequate water, but only to find later that it was from another cause.   Parts of the ocean were closed also to Salmon fisherman last year. Such funding raises lots of questions about who and how and what for the funds will be distributed.    The 60 million should certainly include the Klamath Basin farmers. All in all the question of common sense prevailed in funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The President is to be commended for standing firm and not permitting the Democrats to wave the white flag and surrender in Iraq to the terrorists. Now….however, Klamath County, particularly must revamp their budgets so that they don’t have to go through an annual prayer session to get the federal government to give them money As a thought, though, it might be fantasy or realistic for the county to make an effort to purchase the Winema National Forest from the Federal government.   After all, it has more acreage in it than all the rest of the county acreage combined. County purchase is an idea that should be explored now. This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.      

Text Box: 5/31/07