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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">All, Please write and
call your Federal Reps and Senators today. Thanks for hanging in
there.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Kim K.
Yamaguchi<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Yejin
Jang [mailto:YJang@naco.org] <BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Monday, March 26, 2007 5:44
AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Yamaguchi,
Kim<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Senate to Vote on
PILT and <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Forest</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Safety Net Reauthorization
</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dear Supervisor, Chair Kim
Yamaguchi, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">We have a once in a lifetime shot at
full funding for PILT and reauthorization of the Forest County Safety Net
(<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Secure</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Rural</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Schools</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and Community Self Determination
Act or P.L. 106-393).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A coalition of Western Democratic
Senators have announced agreement on the broad outline of a plan to reauthorize
the Forest County Safety Net and to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes
(PILT) program for five years. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For the first time since its 1994
reauthorization, PILT would be funded at its full authorized amount, beginning
in FY 2008 and each year thereafter until FY 2011.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Senators also propose a new
Safety Net formula starting in FY 2007. The new formula would distribute funding
based partially on counties’ historic revenue sharing receipts (as did the
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 which expired
last September), and partially on counties percentage of total National Forest
acreage. Additionally, it would include a “need factor” to steer some added
dollars to more economically distressed counties. In FY 2008 counties would see
a one percent decrease and then a ten percent reduction each year until the
program sunsets (or is reauthorized) in FY 2011. The Senators estimate that most
forest counties nationwide will see significant increases under the new formula,
especially when considered with a fully funded PILT
program.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Counties in <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>, <st1:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State> and
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>,
would however see significant decreases under the new formula. To soften that
blow, the agreement calls for counties in the “Big Three” states to be held
harmless in FY 2007 and then have their annual payments reduced by ten percent
each year in FY 2008, 2009 and 2010 and then go to the new formula in 2011
(somewhat larger than ten percent reduction).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The compromise breaks the deadlock
between the Senators from the West Coast states who had received the most money
under the 1908 revenue sharing and therefore received the most under the six
years of the Safety Net and Senators from the Interior West who argued that a
new Safety Net formula was needed to garner the votes needed to pass such
significant spending legislation in the Senate. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The new package was negotiated and
announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Energy and Natural
Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Finance Committee Chairman
Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee Chairman Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.) along with their colleagues Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty
Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Barbara Boxer
(D-Calif.).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Finance Committee, chaired by
Senator Baucus, has jurisdiction over the offsets identified to pay for PILT and
the new Safety Net.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The eight Senators have been
engaging in active outreach to other Senators, including their Republican
colleagues. While details are still being worked out, according to staff,
initial reactions seem to be positive and progress is being
made.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Senator Wyden plans to offer the
package as an amendment to the Senate version of the FY 2007 Emergency
Supplemental Appropriation which is scheduled to be debated and voted on by the
full Senate the week of March 26.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The House passed its version of the
Emergency Supplemental Appropriation on March 23, with a one year extension of
the Safety Net included.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Take Action! A
vote is possible as early as Tuesday or Wednesday!
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Pass this information to your school
districts and the education community- Distribute the call to action as widely
as possible within your state and county!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If your Senator is in the group of
eight who negotiated the PILT/Forest County Safety Net package - THANK THEM for
their hard work!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If your Senator is NOT in the group
of eight - urge them to support the Wyden amendment to the Emergency
Supplemental to fully fund PILT and reauthorize the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Secure</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Rural</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Schools</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and Community Self Determination
Act. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Call or email your Representatives
by logging onto <A href="">http://capwiz.com/naco/home</A>. Please leave
feedback of your call through our website.</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Paul V. Beddoe,
Ph.D.</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Associate Legislative
Director</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Western Interstate Region ~ Public
Lands</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">National Association of Counties
</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><STRONG><B><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">25
Massachusetts Avenue
NW</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><STRONG><B><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Suite</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:Street><STRONG><B><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
500</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:address><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><STRONG><B><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Washington</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:City><STRONG><B><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">,
<st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">20001</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></st1:place><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(202) 942-4234 -
voice</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(202) 942-4281 -
fax</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(202) 550-8946 -
mobile</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><I><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">NACo - The Voice
of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s
Counties</SPAN></FONT></I></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></P>
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