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Deschutes County commissioners debate governor's proposal to use kicker for wildfire trust fund
Summary
Commissioners discussed a governor-backed plan to use part of the "kicker" to fund a wildfire trust fund, and county officials warned tapping the rainy day or general fund would reduce money available for other services.
Deschutes County commissioners discussed competing proposals this week to fund wildfire prevention and response as the Oregon Legislature prepares end-of-session budget choices.
Commissioner Chang said the governor is "now supporting the concept to use a portion of a kicker to fund a wildfire trust fund that over the long term would generate interest that we could use to pay for wildfire prevention and also wildfire fighting costs." The proposal was raised during a Friday legislative update by county officials tracking Salem activity.
The nut graf: commissioners and staff flagged two related concerns: several local officials oppose using the rainy day fund or general fund interest because that would divert money from other county priorities, and any change that draws from general-purpose state revenue could be difficult to sustain.
County staff and commissioners described an alternative mentioned on an Eastern Oregon call: using interest from the rainy day fund. Commissioner Adair warned that tapping a kicker or rainy day fund could set a precedent of recurring draws. "People really don't want that kicker touch because once it's touched, yes, it will always be touched," Adair said, noting a two-thirds legislative threshold for some changes.
Staff emphasized the trade-offs. Commissioner Chang said using rainy day fund interest or the general fund to pay wildfire costs "means that we have that much less to work with, from our general fund for all of our other needs, public safety, behavioral health, and a range of other things." The comments framed wildfire funding as a zero-sum choice for state budget writers.
Doug Riggs, a county legislative staff member, summarized the broader context: the Legislature is operating with a revenue forecast that provides more money than the current biennium but still faces inflation and many funding demands. That revenue picture will shape whether a dedicated wildfire funding stream wins support.
Ending: Commissioners did not take a formal vote at the May 23 update. The discussion identified key state-level trade-offs the county will continue to track as Ways and Means and legislative leadership finalize budget decisions in the coming weeks.
