Members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly met May 21–23 for regularly scheduled interim legislative days. In a joint session of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee and House Revenue Committee, the state economist released the quarterly economic and revenue forecast. The forecast projected a small increase in state revenues of another $106.5 million for the 2011–13 biennium. State economist Mark McMullen said he was encouraged by lower initial unemployment claims and said the “outlook is remarkably stable” for continued growth.

During the interim legislative days, the legislature’s Emergency Board, the interim committee with budget allocation authority, approved a $550,000 grant to the City of Eugene for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in track and field. The trials will run from June 21 to July 1, and will be held primarily at the University of Or¬egon’s Hayward Field. The grant, which was secured with the help of Oregon senate president Peter Courtney (D-Salem) and Weighs and Means committee member state representative Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene), will help organizers add extra public safety measures for the event, which is projected to generate $31 million in economic activity in the greater Eugene metro area.

More information about the U.S. Olympic Team Trials can be found at the event’s official website.