Not surprisingly, I am not the only person concerned with the budget crippling tax privileges afforded to large tract timberland. Lane County like Coos has a large percentage of industrial timberland and efforts are being made to place a statewide initiative on the 2016 ballot to address timber tax equity and accountability. 
A series of “Conversations on the Forest” have been underway headed by former Lane County commissioner Rob Handy, forester Roy Keene whose editorial are seen in the Register Guard and on MGx from time to time and Kevin Matthews. The 11th meeting in the series is tonight in Cottage Grove but I unfortunately am not able to attend but do hope to get an update to present soon.
Thankfully, there are some extremely knowledgeable people working to resolve the revenue issues besetting many of the O&C timber counties. Just as we have discussed here, local officials and state legislators are not likely to take on the timber industry if they aren’t forced to by intense public pressure or a citizen initiative.
