Financial- Standard and Poor's (1-2 Files)

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No other entities were considered to meet the criteria for inclnsion in this report. ECONOMIC CONDITION AND OUTLOOK Marion County is located in the central part of the Willamette Valley and ranks as the ieading agri-business region in the state. The Ongon and Marion County economies have been fairly stable thmughout fiscal year 1993. 'ILe building industry, both commercial and residential, oontinues to increase due in part to low interest rates and ~the influx of poople and'new businesses that continue to move into the Coanty. However, timber related industries conrinue to decline. The environmental issues dealing with ffie spotted owl and old growth timber have almost eliminated the timber related industries. The majority of the timber sales remain in the court system thereby halting the snpply of timber to the mills. Production in the ag~i-business was down due to the wet spring that delayed planting of most crops and severely inhibited the maturing of the berry and cherry aops. Even with the relatively poor year, our agri-business continues to have a major mk the Co~mty's economic outlook because of the economic ties that have been established in Canada and the Pscific Rim countries. Manufacturing firms have moved ahead of the timber related industries and have reduced the impact of the layoff in ffie timber related industries. These events have not had a significant effect on employment. The unemployment rate fluctuated in the high 5% to low 7% range during the fiscal year. Overall, County officials are optimistic about the economic outlook and continue to pmmote the County as an excellent place to live, work and purchase goods and servicas. MAJOR INITIATIVES For The Year 'Ibe County designed a plan for the utili~tion of the vacant jail facility on the fourth floor of the Courthouse. The plan incorporates the short-teim space needs of the County and the future nads of the Court System. The area will be remodeled into offices and two large conferena rooms that will be used by the County until there is a need for new courts. At th~t time, minor remodeling would be nxded W convert the space to courtrooms and chambers for the judges. The contract for and the renovation of the space for County needs will take place in fiscal year 1993-1994. This past year, a wide area network was installed to connect all the computers in county ovmed facilities in the Salem city limits. Fiber optics was installed at two locations and a microwave link was made between the Courthouse and the Data Ctnter.. The network is a necessary link in the development of county-wide computerization, and automation. For The Future 'Ihe County, City of Salem ~d the Oregon State Police are working on a cooperative agreement to build and operate s joint criminal justice etnter that'will accommodate the poliee units of the thrce agencies. During fiscal year 1993-1994, they will be determining the space needs of each unit and the estimatai cost of the facility to be built near the County's Jail F~ility. With continued focus on automation and computeri7ation, the County will investigate various systems to provide human resource management and imaging. These systems will help to impmve communication and document flow within the County departments. The County infrnma~ion systrans management team plans to have a recommendation for inclusion in the fiscal year 1993-94 budget process. -x-