Department of State Lands seeks $116.5 million, cites staffing shortfalls and permit delays

The Oregon Department of State Lands presented its 2025–27 budget request to the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on March 17, 2025, asking the governor to approve $116,500,000 and 38 positions to restore core services and advance multi‑year projects. Director Vicki Walker and Deputy Director of Administration Jean Strait outlined program needs ranging from permit review capacity and GIS staffing to funding for the abandoned and derelict vessels program and the Elliott State Research Forest.

Walker said the request is aimed at “securing adequate resources for this team to meet your expectations,” and described the proposal as intended to restore timeliness and program capacity after declines in performance and customer satisfaction. Jean Strait told the committee the department has missed several key performance targets, including its 60‑day target for individual removal‑fill permit decisions; the department’s fiscal year 2024 average was 94 days for those permits and 81 days for wetland delineation reviews.

The budget materials and staff…