SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of town hall meetings around the state in April to gather public input on the agency's proposed 2011-2013 budget.

The proposed budget, which is being crafted by ODFW and an external budget advisory committee, will be presented for review at the town hall meetings listed below. All meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Public comments will be recorded at each meeting and used to help refine the budget before it is presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 4, 2010. Once a proposed budget is approved by the Commission, it will be submitted to the Governor for his consideration. The budget will ultimately be determined by the 2011 Legislature.

Portland: Monday, April 12, Monarch Hotel and Conference Center, 12566 SE 93rd Avenue, Portland/Clackamas

La Grande: Tuesday, April 13, La Grande Fire Station, 1806 Cove Avenue, La Grande

Bend: Wednesday, April 14, Central Oregon Community College, Boyle Education   Center, Room 155, 2600 NW College Way, Bend

Klamath Falls: Tuesday, April 20, Klamath County Extension Office, 3328 Vandenberg Road, Klamath Falls

Central Point: Wednesday, April 21, Rogue Watershed District Office, 1495 East Gregory Road, Central Point

Roseburg: Thursday, April 22, ODFW SW Regional Office, 4192 North Umpqua Highway, Roseburg

Salem: Monday, April 26, ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem

Brookings: Tuesday, April 27, Chetco Community Library, 405 Alder Street, Brookings

Newport: Wednesday, April 28, Marilyn Potts Guin Library, Hatfield Marine Science Center, OSU, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport

Astoria: Thursday, April 29, Comfort Suites (Columbia River), 3420 Leif Erickson Drive, Astoria

Additional ODFW budget information can be found on the ODFW website, https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/budget/ 

Comments on the proposed budget are welcome. Comments can be submitted through May 13, 2010 by e-mail to ODFW.Comments@state.or.us or by mail to ODFW Director’s Office, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE, Salem, OR  97303-4924.  Public testimony will also be heard at the Commission meeting on June 4 in Salem.  

###