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McCall Council approves letter urging restoration of federal forest workforce
Summary
The council approved a letter to Idaho and federal officials expressing concern about proposed staffing reductions and budget cuts to the U.S. Forest Service and asking for restoration of critical funding and personnel for wildfire prevention, forest management, and airport support.
The McCall City Council voted to approve a city letter to the governor, the chief of the U.S. Forest Service and other officials urging restoration of funding and staff for the Forest Service and related federal employees who support wildfire management, recreation management and local aviation operations.
City Manager Forest Atkinson presented a draft letter the council had requested at a prior meeting; the letter cites the local economy’s reliance on federal forest jobs, the area’s surrounding national forest lands and the role of federal employees in wildfire prevention, response and broader land management. The council asked staff to finalize the letter and authorized the city manager to make edits based on council discussion; Mayor Giles will sign the final letter.
Council members reiterated regional concerns about cuts: members stressed that reductions would have immediate effects on forest stewardship, recreational access, wildfire preparedness and the broader local economy. Council President Colby Nielsen and Council Member Mike Machesic urged a tone that balances the need for efficient government with urgency about local impacts; one member asked staff to strengthen language indicating the potential for long‑term harm to forests and local services if reductions proceed abruptly. The council gave staff authority to incorporate those concerns and circulate the final letter to Idaho congressional representatives, the governor’s office, the U.S. Forest Service and relevant federal partners.
