Eric Schmidt Comments On “Shenanigans” And Other County Business

Carrie Bartoldus March 17, 2008

In their Friday, March 14th, article the Daily Astorian used a derogatory word pertaining to the combined actions of Clatsop County’s commissioners, and more specifically Commissioner Richard Lee, while attributing it to a spokesperson for an Oregon association.

Joe Gamm, a reporter who has written extensively regarding Richard Lee’s development difficulties, wrote, “Meanwhile, the controversy in Clatsop County is gaining statewide attention. Eric Schmidt, communications manager for the Association of Oregon Counties, said he’s been keeping up with shenanigans in Clatsop County.”

“I will state, flat out, that I did not use the word “shenanigans” in my conversation with the reporter from the Daily Astorian,” says Eric Schmidt, Communications Manager for the Association of Oregon Counties. “I would not say there is a negative perception or impression of the Clatsop County Commissioners. Other county commissioners have gone through the same thing. It’s politics.” Schmidt clarified, “Of course we are watching this recall effort, as we would for any county.”

Schmidt said the Association of Oregon Counties values Clatsop County’s membership, “They play a critical role in the association.” Recently, Schmidt recounted, Commissioner Hazen was very vocal and spoke articulately regarding the lost revenue from federal timber in the thirty-three of the thirty-six counties in Oregon. “Even though Clatsop County is not one of the counties receiving federal funds, Commissioner Hazen was an integral part of helping us to get an extension on Federal Forest Payments (PL106-393),” Schmidt emphasized. The law, enacted in 2000, was to help the thirty-three counties impacted when logging of federally owned was curtailed. Federal funds were to be used for six years in place of the money the counties would have garnered from shared timber sales. In that interim the counties were expected to find a replacement for the lost economy.

“Commissioner Hazen was able to articulate to the federal government that what happens to a few counties impacts all of the counties, whether they are receiving federal funds or not,” Schmidt stated. “The theory was that in a six year period the counties would be able to find a something to make up for the missed timber revenue, such as tourism or another industry. It was too small of a window, and for many of these rural communities tourism is not a viable option.” Thirty-nine other states agree with the Oregon counties’ assessment of the situation and have asked congress to extend the time frame.

“Right now the thirty-three counties in Oregon are acting as if they will not be getting this funding in time for the next fiscal year,” said Schmidt in relating the concerns of commissioners across the state, “There are going to be deep cuts in many counties this coming year. Services that cannot be funded and staff that will have to be cut.”

One area that is also getting a lot of discussion is the stipend of District Attorneys. “By and large commissioners across the state agree they need a good District Attorney and to retain one takes money. Many counties subsidize the state pay with a stipend,” Schmidt added, “However, with so many of the counties impacted in losing their federal timber revenue the discussion has once again come up regarding the state taking on more of their share of what is, essentially, a state office.”

Schmidt said that while a decade ago the state was helping counties with the salaries of the assistant district attorneys by 2005 the amount had dwindled to zero. In 2007 it was raised to $800,000 but that amount is split between the all of the assistant district attorneys (ada) for thirty-six counties coming to approximately $4,000 per ada.

Schmidt said another topic of discussion that the counties are considering is performance based measures. With the Oregon Ways and Means encouraging its use as a matter of public policy more counties are considering how to implement or incorporate performance based measures into their budgeting process. The State of Oregon is now using it, as are most larger counties.

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