Wildfire Recovery, Election, Elliott State Forest, and Audits
Wildfire Recovery Resources
While the devastating fires impacting our state are becoming more contained, many of the recovery efforts are now underway. The state has compiled resources available online for those who were impacted by the wildfires. The website includes information for registering for FEMA disaster aid, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Homeowner’s insurance, debris clean-up, and renters and tenants information. Please share this information with anyone who may have been impacted.
In addition to the recovery response, Governor Brown created the Wildfire Economic Recovery Council. Co-chaired by Treasurer Tobias Read and Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, the council is focused on assessing economic and community needs of Oregonians statewide as a result of the 2020 wildfire season. You can learn more about the Council’s efforts on their website.
My thoughts and prayers have been with all Oregonians who have been impacted in this time of great loss and destruction. I hope that our state can begin the healing process in this difficult time for so many.
|
2020 General Election
The 2020 General Election is less than two weeks away! Voters’ Pamphlets and ballots have been mailed and we are beginning to get unofficial ballot return numbers updated daily. The unofficial data we have on ballot returns looks like we are well on our way to another record number of ballots cast for a General Election. This is great news that so many people are participating in our democratic process, with voting being safe, secure, and accessible, it is no wonder we are seeing high turnout numbers. Your ballot and vote is your opportunity to make your voice heard.
We have a few helpful reminders for you:
All ballots must be received in an official dropbox or at the county election office by 8 p.m. on November 3rd, postmarks do not count. As always, your trusted source of election information is OregonVotes.gov or your local county election officials.
|
 Elliott State Forest
As a member of the State Land Board, we have the challenging task of determining the best proposal for management of the Elliott State Forest. In 2018, the State Land Board asked the Department of State Lands to look into the possibility of working with Oregon State University to make the Elliott State Forest a publicly owned research forest. Key elements of a research forest proposal have now been drafted with the help of advisory committees, Tribes, state and local governments, stakeholders, and the public. I encourage you to take a look at the proposal and participate in the process by sharing your thoughts on how this forest can best serve the varied needs of our state while fulfilling our constitutional obligations.
There will be two remote presentation and Q&A sessions with Department of State Lands and Oregon State University on October 26th and November 5th, as well as informal drop-in Zoom sessions that will occur on October 27th, 29th, November 4th and 6th. All of these sessions are open to the public.
Department of State Lands has created a website for the Elliott State Forest research proposal. On the website you can find details for the draft proposal, information on the remote sessions, and ways to provide feedback. The Department asks that feedback be provided by November 13th in order to prepare for the State Land Board meeting on December 8th, where we will make a determination on next steps for this forest.
Audits
Department of Administrative Services: Coronavirus Relief Fund Reimbursements
Our office issued a management letter to Department of Administrative Services this week that outlined findings of a real-time review of local government reimbursement requests of CARES Act funds. These Coronavirus Relief Funds must be used for non-budgeted COVID-related expenditures incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020. Given that deadline and the large amount of funding involved, the audit team decided on a real-time review that allows us to identify problems and propose potential solutions before the funding cutoff at the end of the year. Auditors looked at a sample of reimbursement requests totaling $21.7 million from 32 jurisdictions which accounts for 47% of the total requested reimbursements. You can read the full letter online.
|
|
