Linn County, Ore. — Linn County Commissioners are suing Oregon for $1.4 billion.
The commissioners announced Wednesday that the county intends to file a class action lawsuit for breach of contract of timber sales receipts off of Oregon Forest Trust Lands.
The lands’ revenue from timber sales were to be returned to counties with the state taking a management fee. Linn County said the state is violating its contract by implementing a management plan that results in a $35 million reduction in revenue, per year, to the counties.
Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal said he’s not surprised by the lawsuit, and thinks it’s time local governments stand up for what they need.
“These lands were designed specifically and set aside by the state of Oregon to be able to provide revenue for local government and for our schools,” he said. “I think it’s really important that we hold the state to that especially during these trying times when we have all this government overreach.”
The lawsuit represents not only Linn County, but more than 150 districts and counties that are beneficiaries of the timber sales receipt from harvest. That includes Josephine, Klamath, Douglas, and Coos Counties.
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