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As a teacher in the Beaverton School District, I have to point out that what many people don’t realize is the state education budget for THIS 09-10 school year, was written DEPENDENT upon measures 66 and 67 passing.

Every school district in the state is counting on these tax increases in order to receive funds this spring; if these measures don’t pass, every district will be forced to make additional cuts. Sadly, there is no “fat” left to cut in school budgets, it was all cut out last year. If measures 66 and 67 do not pass, my district and many others will be dismissing school in May rather than mid June.

The trickledown effect will be that parents will be forced to pay for additional child care, some students could have difficulties in meeting graduation requirements, and teachers, assistants and administrators pay checks will be reduced by the number of days we don’t work.

We can certainly argue the fiscal irresponsibility of state government making a budget dependent on future tax increases, but that is what was done. I worry about what this spring will look like for Oregnian families if we do not pass these measures.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context

What many people don’t realize is that the state education budget for THIS 09-10 school year, was written DEPENDENT upon measures 66 and 67 passing.

In other words, every school district in the state is counting on these measures passing in order to receive funds this spring. If these measures don’t pass, every school district in the state will be forced to make additional cuts. Sadly, there is no “fat” left to cut in school budgets, we cut it all last year (I’m a teacher in the Beaverton School District).

If measures 66 and 67 do not pass, my district and many others will be dismissing school in May rather than mid June. The trickledown effect will be that parents will be forced to find and pay for additional child care, some students could have difficulties in meeting graduation requirements, and teachers, assistants and administrators pay checks will be reduced by the number of days we don’t work.

We can certainly argue the fiscal irresponsibility of state government making a budget dependent on future tax increases, but that is what was done. I worry about what the spring will look like for our kids and families if we do not pass these measures.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
view in context