Klamath Basin News, Friday, June 16 – Father’s Day Weekend Arrives; Klamath Octoberfest is Back; Oregon Senate Returns to Tackle 400 Bills in a Week Left of the Legislative Session

KCC to livestream commencement, K-CET graduation

For friends and families unable to attend in-person, Klamath Community College (KCC) will livestream its Class of 2023 Commencement, as well as its Klamath Center for Education and Training (K-CET) graduation ceremony.

The KCC Commencement Ceremony is for all graduating students and their families, taking place at 6 p.m. Friday, June 16 on KCC’s graduation lawn at Founders Hall. The keynote speaker this year is Tayo Akins, CEO and president of Cascade Comprehensive Care and Cascade Health Alliance. Attendance to the ceremony is free, there will be a reception afterward inside Building 4 on the KCC campus.

Additionally, livestreaming services will also be provided for the K-CET program, honoring students who have completed their GEDs through KCC. This ceremony will take place inside Building 4 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, and is also free to attend.

Beyond the commencement ceremony, a number of other KCC programs also host their own separate ceremonies to honor graduates. Over the first weekend of June, graduates in KCC’s Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) programs held a pinning ceremony – a long-standing tradition for new nurses. Additional upcoming ceremonies include graduates of the TRiO Student Support Services program, Highschool Equivalency Program (HEP), and high school Accelerated Learning program.

The livestream will be at www.klamathcc.edu/watch-commencement, or on KCC’s YouTube channel. For more information visit klamathcc.edu.

Klamath County is next in line for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley’s annual Town Hall meetings.

Rescheduled from March due to inclement weather, the community conversation is planned for 1 p.m., Friday, June 16 at Oregon Tech’s Danny Miles Court gymnasium, 3201 Campus Drive.

Klamath County’s Town Hall will be the 30th stop for Merkley so far this year.

The senator will continue his tour with a visit to Lake County the following day, Saturday, June 17. The Lake County Town Hall will begin at 5 p.m. and will be held in the Lakeview High School cafeteria at 906 S. 3rd St.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will present Music For A Midsummer’s Eve, a concert of classical music, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18.

According to a press release, the concert is free and open to the public and will feature a program of songs and arias along with works for organ.

Performers include Onalee Melton, soprano, who will be accompanied on piano by Dan Crenshaw, and Maxim Dzul, director of music and principal organist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the release states.

According to the release, the upcoming concert includes vocal works by George Gershwin, Eric Whitacre, Robert Schumann, Gabriel Fauré and Gaetano Donizetti as well as works for the organ by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Johann Sebastian Bach, Max Reger and Charles Widor.

Sacred Heart has presented a series of free classical concerts over the past eight years which have become increasingly popular with local audiences that enjoy classical music. Sunday’s concert will be approximately 75 minutes in length.

Klamath Falls is in the spotlight this week after being named one of America’s top 15 small towns to visit in Smithsonian Magazine.

The article, written by travel correspondent Laura Kiniry describes Klamath Falls’ rich history and vibrant downtown.  Kiniry referred to Klamath Falls as a “nature lover’s small town,” noting the usual 300 days of sunshine each year.

South-centrally located in Oregon, Kiniry listed activities for the outdoor adventurists such as rafting the white-water rapids of the Klamath River and hiking the Tomahawk Trail up Mount McLoughlin.

And come this fall, Moore Park, Upper Klamath Lake and the nearby Crater Lake National Park will serve as prime viewpoints for the next annular solar eclipse Oct. 14.

Road Construction All Summer.  Klamath County or utility companies have work crews out on roads all over the Klamath Basin and ask you to drive carefully.

Motorists are asked to use caution when in work areas and to watch for flaggers. Any motorists who are able to avoid the work zones, is asked to use an alternate route for their safety and the safety of Klamath County employees and contractors.

Utility work with intermittent lane closures is scheduled for the vicinity of Stearns Elementary School on Crest Street from Clinton to Denver and on Laverne Avenue from Crest to Altamont.

Bobs Excavating is slated to perform storm sewer work.

Finally, crack seal and patching work is scheduled for miscellaneous County Roads

Traffic control measures will be in place for guidance. Motorists should use alternative routes if possible.

In general, flagging stations will be set up at the end of the work zone and delays will be zero to 20 minutes for the motoring public. The county’s goal is to minimize the delay to the motoring public.

There might be adjustments of work schedules due to weather or other items outside of the county’s control such as the breakdown of equipment or lack of availability of materials or resources.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 541-883-4696.

Around the state of Oregon

Oregon Senate back to work after 42-day Republican walkout

The Oregon Senate, having ended the longest walkout in state history, and now they must deal with hundreds of bills before the session end on the close of June 25^th. The walkout ended after 42 days — and after majority Democrats and minority Republicans asserted victory in disputes over abortion access and firearms regulation.

However, 10 senators are likely to have to go to court to challenge a measure under which their unexcused absences during the walkout now disqualify them from seeking re-election. Voters set a threshold of 10 such absences when they approved Measure 113 last year — and the unexcused absences remain on the books.

Now in the session’s final week, the Senate will tackle a backlog of 400 bills, although both chambers plan to observe the new Juneteenth state holiday (on June 19) Monday, created two years ago.

A compromise was reached after several failed attempts. It took Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego to come up with the exact compromise language for the disputed legislation.

The Senate then passed the two bills on identical votes of 17-3, with all Democrats for and three Republicans against. It takes a required quorum of 20 senators to do business. Eight other Republicans and one independent who was elected as a Republican were listed as absent; Republican Sen. Fred Girod of Lyons, who is on medical leave, was excused.

Left wing Democrats agreed to change some provisions of two bills, which returned to the House for action on amendments.

House Bill 2002, will continue to allow those under age 15 to consent to reproductive care if a medical provider determines that parental involvement would result in neglect of or physical or emotional abuse to the minor. Or with the concurrence of an independent provider, that provider may conclude that parental involvement would not be in the best interest of the minor.

Of a total of 7,109 abortions recorded in Oregon in 2021, just 14 involved someone under 15. Another 630 patients were between ages 15 and 19, including many 18- and 19-year-olds who would not be affected by any notice requirements.

The bill also was amended to clarify that picketing is excluded from the definition of a new crime of interference with a health-care facility, maximum penalties for which would be 364 days in jail — one day short of a year, that would qualify it as a felony — and a $6,250 fine. The amendment even repeated, word for word, the state constitutional guarantee of free expression.

Democrats also removed provisions for expansion of medication-induced abortion in universities and rural areas, which GOP Republicans consider a win.

The bill still contains this provision: “Every individual has a fundamental right to make decisions about the individual’s reproductive health, including the right to make decisions about the individual’s reproductive health care, to use or refuse contraception, to continue the individual’s pregnancy and give birth or to terminate the individual’s pregnancy.” It also provides legal protections for patients, caregivers and providers against lawsuits or other actions brought in states where abortion is restricted or banned.

House Bill 2005, now is amended to narrow the definition of untraceable parts for so-called ghost guns, which would still be outlawed as of Sept. 1, 2024. A first violation would be punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000; a second violation would be a Class A misdemeanor, with maximums of 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine. Subsequent violations would be Class C felonies with maximums of five years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

Removed pieces of the bill were provisions to limit access to firearms by people ages 18 to 21, and allow some local governments to bar firearms from public buildings and grounds, including those by concealed-license holders. (The governing boards of school districts, community colleges and universities got that authority in a 2021 law, and that will be unchanged.)

GOP concessions

Republicans, for their part, agreed to return and suspend Senate rules to allow fast-track consideration of bills that have piled up since May 3. That eases the way for majority Democrats to push through bills and budgets that would have died with the close of the session.

Under an earlier measure Gov. Kotek signed, state agencies continue to have spending authority through Sept. 15. But most will require new two-year budgets for the cycle that starts July 1.

Wagner, in a brief session with reporters, said he did not have the authority to suspend unexcused absences racked up by nine Republicans and one independent originally elected as a Republican. Under Measure 113, intended to deter walkouts during recent sessions, 10 or more unexcused absences from floor sessions would disqualify members from seeking re-election. Republicans say they are prepared to go to court to challenge it.

The only Senate Republicans who have not crossed that threshold are Girod, Anderson and David Brock Smith of Port Orford. All three are up for election in 2024, as are six of the 10 others with unexcused absences. In addition to Knopp and Findley, they are Brian Boquist of Dallas, an independent; Bill Hansell of Athena, who announced earlier he would leave after 12 years; Dennis Linthicum of Klamath Falls and Art Robinson of Cave Junction. The others are up in 2026.

A proposed constitutional amendment (House Joint Resolution 30) was introduced in the House to lower the required number for conducting business from two-thirds to a simple majority, as it is in 45 other states. It has been referred to the House Rules Committee, but Wagner said he doubted there was enough time left for both chambers to take it up. Voters would have to approve such a change.

Oregon is only one of four states — Indiana, Tennessee and Texas are the others — where two-thirds majorities are required to conduct legislative business. Massachusetts has requirements for less than a majority; all other states require only a simple majority.

The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed Thursday that an estimated 3.5 million driver’s license and identification card files were compromised when the agency was hacked two weeks ago.

Agency spokesperson Michelle Godfrey said Thursday that the agency realized on Monday — four days ago — that the breach had extended to about 90% of the state’s driver’s license and ID card files.

Portland media reps first made inquiries about the security breach on Wednesday; DMV officials took nearly a day to respond with answers. Godfrey said the agency planned to wait until Friday to go public because officials are still preparing agency employees for how to respond to Oregonians’ questions and concerns about how to protect themselves.

Godfrey advised the public to monitor credit reports for signs of fraudulent activity.

Godfrey said state officials “became aware” on June 1 that the agency’s system had been hacked. Two hours later, the systems were “locked down,” she said.

Thunderstorms with lightning and moderate precipitation have been moving through the area causing several small lightning fires across the Modoc National Forest over the last three weeks.

Among the several fires, all but two have been contained and extinguished. One fire remains under investigation for human involvement.

Moisture and additional thunderstorms are expected to continue through June bringing the additional potential for fire. Currently, fuel moisture and fire danger are low, creating little risk for large fires.

For the latest fire information visit www.cascadefirewatch.com and follow Cascade Firewatch on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Clackamas County, Oregon woman is facing federal drug charges for using social media to advertise, sell, and distribute illegal drugs to minors in and around Portland.

Averi Rose Dickinson, 19, a resident of Damascus, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute and distributing controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, in January 2023, the FBI began investigating Dickinson after learning she ran a drug distribution service called “Kiki’s Delivery Service” that advertised and took orders for illegal narcotics on various social media applications including Instagram, Snapchat, and Telegram. Investigators soon discovered that Dickinson had been operating the service for up to three years, taking and fulfilling orders for cocaine, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, marijuana, and various forms of pills, both real and fake. Investigators also identified Dickinson as a source of supply within a larger drug distribution chain responsible for several juvenile drug overdoses.

On June 14, 2023, investigators executed federal warrants on Dickinson’s Damascus residence and vehicle. They located and seized quantities of cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, and counterfeit Xanax bars; $3,000 in cash; a Glock 9mm handgun with extended magazine; an AR-style assault rifle; and a bullet proof vest. Dickinson told investigators she believed approximately 50% of her drug distribution clients were minors and that she used several minors as runners to deliver drugs.

Dickinson made her first appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. She was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF), and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Federal auditors have flagged problems in the Oregon Health Authority’s oversight of mental health grants, including the potential misappropriation of more than half a million dollars. 

Their review, obtained by the Capital Chronicle in a public records request, shows the agency has failed to adequately inform a federally-mandated advisory council where money for programs to help Oregon’s most vulnerable in communities across the state has gone. 

The grant program run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, known as SAMHSA, provides a prime funding source for Oregon’s behavioral health and addiction services, giving the state $13 million in the last two years. 

The report found that the lack of oversight resulted in the health authority improperly awarding more than $570,000 in federal dollars toward the expansion and remodeling of a residential youth facility in Eugene. Using the money for major building improvements isn’t allowed under the federal mental health grant program, auditors said in their preliminary findings.

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.7% in May 

Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% in May, down from 4.0% in April. This was the fourth consecutive monthly drop in the unemployment rate, down from a recent high of 4.8% in January. The May rate was similar to rates in February through May 2022, when it ranged from 3.5% to 3.7%. Oregon’s May unemployment rate of 3.7% equaled the U.S. unemployment rate, which rose to 3.7% in May from 3.4% in April. 

In May, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,600 jobs, following a revised gain of 500 jobs in April. Over-the-month gains were largest in financial activities (+1,200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (+1,100), and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+1,000). Declines were largest in retail trade (-500 jobs) and government (-300). Since May 2022, Oregon has added 39,100 nonfarm payroll jobs (+2.0%). 

Leisure and hospitality, while still adding jobs, has grown at a slower rate during the past 12 months than during its rapid partial recovery during much of 2020 and 2021. Its component industry, accommodation and food services, which employed 177,000 in May, added 4,800 jobs in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, arts, entertainment, and recreation, which employed 27,600 in May, added 2,800 jobs in that time. Despite these recent gains, leisure and hospitality is still 11,900 jobs (-5%) below where it was in February 2020, just prior to the Pandemic Recession. 

Fire Update: June 16th, along Highway 730 near the Juniper Canyon area

Early yesterday morning, winds on the Hat Rock Fire required quick action by crews as a flare-up added approximately 80-100 acres to the fire footprint near Juniper Canyon. Taskforces worked to prevent the spread of fire into difficult terrain. Coordinating immediate response, Division Supervisor Brent Olson stated, “Local ranchers were instrumental in disking lines during the attack, working alongside our fire crews to provide solid containment lines.” 

Task forces concentrated work in the Juniper Canyon area throughout the day to further secure lines and perform isolated clean-up burns to reduce the fuel load near the fire perimeter. Work was conducted along Highway 730, addressing hot spots and strengthening the fire’s edge.

Although flare-ups occurred, crews’ quick work to attack and limit fire progress on the Hat Rock Fire has grown confidence in the overall containment of the fire. With more accurate mapping analysis together with crews assessing the fire line, we are happy to report that the fire is now 70% contained and total fire acreage is at 16,252 acres. With containment lines holding and dozer lines reinforcing the Juniper Canyon area, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office downgraded Level 3 (GO) evacuation areas to Level 2 (SET), and Level 2 (SET) areas to Level 1 (READY). Updates to these evacuation orders can be found on the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Facebook page.

Work will continue today with fire crews performing tactical sweeps, putting out hot spots, mopping up perimeters, and ensuring containment lines hold. Transition plans are being developed to transfer fire management back to local authorities. The OSFM Green Team will remain in place until confidence is assured that the fire will hold within the containment lines.

No activity was noted on the Mount Hebron Fire yesterday as crews continued to maintain containment lines. Because of the work done by taskforces over the past several days, this fire is now contained at 100%. Resources were downsized to one fire engine to continue to patrol the perimeter. The Multnomah County Task Force was demobilized this morning to return to their home districts.

The OSFM Green Team assigned to the incident remains committed to a successful transfer of the contained fires back to local jurisdictions. Incident Commander Lance Lighty said, “Our job is not complete until we have confidence in the lines holding. Crews have been tested with unfavorable weather conditions and dry fuels, but favorable weather and the hard work of crews are putting us on a successful path to complete fire containment.” 

Evacuation orders are still in effect for a portion of the Hat Rock Fire. Please refer to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. 

To honor Juneteenth National Independence Day and increase recreational access to public land, the Bureau of Land Management is waiving recreation standard amenity and day-use fees for visitors on June 19, 2023.

The BLM invites the public to explore the unique and diverse natural landscapes and visitor facilities on BLM-managed lands for a day of reflection and celebration.  

The holiday is the third fee-free day of 2023 and the first fee-free Juneteenth for the BLM. Fee-free days refer to the waiver of standard amenity fees and day-use fees, such as visitor centers, picnic/day use areas, and National Conservation Lands units where fees are charged. Expanded amenity fees and other fees, like group day use, overnight camping, cabin rentals, and individual special recreation permits, will remain in effect unless the authorized officer determines it is appropriate to waive them.

BLM’s public lands offer spectacular beauty in the summer months throughout Oregon and Washington.  

Hidden gem recreation recommendations:  

• Loon Lake Recreation Site provides excellent boating, fishing, and water play opportunities. Or spend the day relaxing on the sandy beach.  
• Smith River Falls Campground offers an ideal place to picnic, wade, fish, and watch bald eagles.  
• Take a scenic day hike on the Threemile Creek Trail. Plan for a moderate, out and back, canyon creek walk with the option of ending in a small meadow or winding your way up the mountain side to the rimrocks above Catlow Valley. Look for wildlife and sweeping views!  
• Chukar Park Recreation Site provides a quiet spot to camp and picnic with nearby hikes, boating, and birdwatching.  
• Chase wildflowers in bloom throughout Oregon and Washington.
• Find a full list of public land locations to explore here.

Know before you go:

• Check with local offices and Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck for current conditions, including closures and travel restrictions.
• Practice Leave No Trace principles and leave your public lands cleaner than you found them.  
• Be fire aware. Check for local fire restrictions and active fire closures. Carry extra water to put out accidental sparks.  

In 2023, BLM will waive recreation standard amenity and day use fees for visitors on:  

• August 4 (Great American Outdoors Day)
• September 30 (National Public Lands Day)
• November 11 (Veterans Day)

Oregon Food Bank Sees Increased Demand

Interior Dept. Propose Rules to Bolster Solar and Wine Power Development 

The Department of the Interior today announced a proposed update of its renewable energy regulations to promote the development of solar and wind energy on public lands. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Renewable Energy Rule would reduce fees for these projects by around 80%, facilitate development in priority areas by streamlining review of applications, and deliver greater certainty for the private sector.  
 
“The Department of the Interior takes seriously our responsibility to manage the nation’s public lands responsibly and with an eye toward the increasing impacts of the climate crisis. The power and potential of the clean energy future is an undeniable and critical part of that work,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis. “Under President Biden and Secretary Haaland’s leadership, this Administration is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach toward ambitious clean energy goals that will support families, boost local economies, and help increase climate resilience in communities across the West.” 
 
“Our public lands are playing a critical role in the clean energy transition,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “This proposed rule would allow the BLM to continue leading the way on renewable energy while furthering President Biden’s commitment to building a clean energy economy, tackling the climate crisis, promoting American energy security, and creating jobs in communities across the country.”  
 
The BLM today also made available updated information regarding its ongoing programmatic environmental review for solar energy development across 11 Western states. The preliminary alternatives build on robust public engagement that is helping to strengthen updated plans for responsible solar energy development on public lands.  
 
Today’s actions are part of broader Biden-Harris administration efforts to unlock the benefits of clean energy. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs, including union jobs, and building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. 
 
Proposed Renewable Energy Rule 
 
The Energy Act of 2020 authorized the BLM to reduce acreage rents and capacity fees to promote wind and solar development. The BLM initially reduced these fees through guidance in 2022. Today’s proposed rule would codify further reductions, improving financial predictability for developers pursuing long-term projects on public land.  
 
The proposed Renewable Energy Rule would expand the BLM’s ability to accept leasing applications in priority areas for wind and solar development without first going through a full auction. It would retain the BLM’s ability to hold competitive auctions where appropriate and consistent with past practice, and expand the BLM’s ability to accept non-competitive leasing applications when they are in the public interest. This update would help facilitate development in these identified priority areas while maintaining appropriate flexibility to ensure a fair return for the use of the public lands. 
 
The proposed rule would also continue the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to creating American manufacturing jobs while helping to build a clean energy economy. The proposal seeks input on additional incentives to promote public lands’ renewable energy projects developed with American-made parts and materials or constructed using union labor. 

The proposed rule opens a 60-day public comment period, which will include three public meetings.  
 
Next Steps on Solar Programmatic Review 
 
In addition to the proposed rule, today the BLM posted preliminary alternatives for the ongoing update to its planning for Western solar development, another step to support responsible renewable energy development on public lands. The BLM is undergoing a process to update its programmatic environmental review for solar energy development across 11 Western states, building on the 2012 Western Solar Plan. 
 
The expanded review would provide updated analysis to support identification of areas with a high potential for solar energy development, as well as expedite permit processing and improve permit management for development in priority areas. The preliminary alternatives made available today provide the public an opportunity to consider emerging options for this planning process. Information about this ongoing planning effort is available on the BLM National NEPA Register, and further information on the preliminary alternatives are in the Federal Register notice. 
 
Continued Progress on Responsible Clean Energy Development 
 
The steps announced today complement the BLM’s proposed Public Lands Rule, which would provide further support for siting projects in appropriate locations while putting conservation on an equal footing with other uses. The Public Lands Rule would provide consistent direction and new tools for compensatory mitigation, allowing developers to offset the impacts of projects with restoration or mitigation efforts on public lands, for the public’s benefit. 
 
Taken together, these actions are helping advance the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to support the efficient and environmentally responsible development of renewable energy on BLM-managed public lands, provide greater clarity and consistency in permitting, and allow continued acceleration of project reviews and approvals, all while balancing the BLM’s multiple use mandate. 
 
Since January 2021, the BLM has approved 35 renewable energy projects, including 10 solar projects, 8 geothermal projects, and 17 transmission gen-tie projects connecting renewable projects to the grid, on approximately 23,396 acres of BLM-managed public lands. These projects are expected to produce 8,160 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 2.6 million homes.  
 
The BLM is currently processing 74 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States. This includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as interconnected gen-tie lines that are vital to clean energy development on non-federal land. These projects have the combined potential to add over 37,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the western electric grid. The BLM is also undertaking the preliminary review of over 150 applications for solar and wind development, as well as 51 applications for solar and wind energy testing.  
 
The BLM manages vast stretches of public lands with the potential to contribute significantly to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio and provides sites for environmentally sound renewable energy projects. Efficient deployment of renewable energy on our nation’s public lands is crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, as well as Congress’ direction in the Energy Act of 2020 to permit 25 gigawatts of solar, wind, and geothermal energy on public lands by 2025

School’s Out, Summer Jobs Are Starting

Money tips from Umpqua Bank…Teach your teens about money in five easy steps from Southern Oregon bank manager. 

We all have money goals. Today’s movie and snacks with friends or first car could be tomorrow’s college tuition or down payment on a house. And the path toward those goals is really the same: save money from the start, spend less than you make. 

“Getting kids used to saving money now will set them up for a stronger financial future as an adult,” says Neal Brown, EVP/Market Region Manager at Oregon-based Umpqua Bank. “And if they need a little extra incentive, you could offer to match what they save each month.” 

Whether your kids earn an allowance at home, work odd jobs for neighbors (think lawn care or babysitting), or have a job that earns an actual paycheck, here are five tips to help them spend their money smarter and learn life’s financial lessons early.

1. Help them set goals. When you have the “why,” saving money is easier. Work with them to identify a short-term, mid-term, and long-term goal. Maybe it’s Saturday shopping with friends, new clothes in the fall and a new-to-them car. Work out a plan identifying a percentage to save from each paycheck or job, and how much can be used for “fun” money. Then make them earn it. The less you dole out cash, the more they’ll learn its value. 

Now’s also a good time to teach generosity by encouraging them to set aside a small amount for charity — whether tithing at church, buying a bag of food to donate to a food bank, or contributing to a younger sibling’s school fundraiser. 

2. Find a bank. Go with them to open an account. Umpqua Bank, for example, offers accounts ideal for customers under 18. 

“Ask your bank what they offer for those just beginning to learn to manage their money,” suggests Justin Burns, Product Manager at Umpqua Bank. Look for features like whether the account includes an ATM card only or an ATM debit card and check writing, and even whether there is the ability to earn interest. More robust accounts, Burns adds, are ideal for older teens who are “ready to begin banking and saving for their next stage of life.” 

Also ask about linking your accounts so you can transfer money into or out of their account and have visibility into their spending habits. Don’t worry, you can set it up so you can see into their account, but they can’t see into yours.

3. Sign up for direct deposit. If their employer offers it, have them sign up, with some of their money going directly into a savings account where they’re less likely to spend it. Many experts recommend starting with 10% of their income going into savings. After all, when else will they have their basic food, clothing and shelter needs covered by someone else? 
4. Use a budget app. Their world is on their phone, so why not make budgeting a part of your teen’s daily screen routine? There are a ton of free apps out there. Just make sure they enter every expense every day so they can quickly see where their money is going. Some banks also feature budget tools that are often free and will automatically track and categorize spending.
5. Teach the grown-up stuff. If they earn enough, Uncle Sam will come calling. Make sure they’re aware that their actual paycheck will have taxes withheld. You can estimate how much they’ll bring home and adjust the savings percentages as needed. You might also consider opening a Roth IRA (custodial for minors) if they will have earned income from a job. Even if they only contribute a little each month, they’ll learn about compound interest and can add more as their income increases throughout the years. Look for institutions with low-cost, low-minimum-to-open options.