Proposed budget good for K-12 education, but shortchanges colleges

Senator Kurt Schrader and Representative Mary Nolan, Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee presented their recommended budget to a joint meeting of the House and Senate last week. There are some bright spots in the budget, but we are very short in some key areas.

The budget for our K-12 schools will end the biennial cuts and allow local districts to begin rebuilding and is good news for anyone fed up with the increasingly shortened school years and growing class sizes we've seen in recent years.

However, the budget proposal short-changes our universities and community colleges. Those recommendations are so low that professional technical programs like nursing are threatened. Lane Community College, which has already raised tuition to an unsustainable level and cut class offerings, will have to cut millions more if this budget passes.

Employers need highly skilled new workers in manufacturing and health care. This budget does not allow our economy to grow or our young people to prepare themselves for the high paying jobs they need and our economy requires.

In the university system budget, money devoted to capital construction is far shy of what is needed, 1/7th of the amount recommended by the governor. To put the need in perspective, the University of Oregon alone needs most of the amount the co-chairs proposed for the coming biennium.

The proposal also cuts the funds necessary to increase the number of new doctors Oregon Health Sciences University educates. That would end the new program to do part of their medical education in Eugene and Corvallis at substantially reduced cost per student.

Buildings on campuses all across the state are in dire need of repair. If the Legislature approves this proposal, we will not only be unable to undertake the repair work needed, but our ability to build and improve science, technology, medical, and engineering facilities will be undercut. We must make the investment in these fundamental aspects of education if we are to compete in the 21st century economy.

One step in the right direction from the recommended budget is that money is set aside for 100 new state police troopers. However, this still puts us 39 officers below the number needed for 24-hour patrols.

The budget also provides a small part of the road funds needed to help counties withstand the expected loss of Federal timber revenue. Many counties in the state are facing bankruptcy, and it is crucial that we help them adjust.

This budget proposal is only a start. The recommended budget put forward is very conservative, because the revenue forecast is expected to be less promising than originally expected. Oregon continues to be short of funds to cover operating expenses for the most basic state services.

I will continue to advocate for an increased budget for community colleges and universities, and for the 139 additional state troopers we need to keep our roadways safe.

If you would like to investigate the Ways and Means Co-Chairs' budget further, it can be found online at http://www.leg.state.or.us/ comm/lfo/2007_2009_cochair_budget.pdf. You can also find Governor Kulongoski's recommended budget at http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/ BAM/GRB0709.shtml.

I welcome any questions, suggestions or other feedback you may have. As always, feel free to contact me by e-mail at rep.philbarnhart@state.or.us, or by phone at 503-986-1411.

Barnhart represents District 11 in the Oregon House of Representatives. The district includes much of southeast Linn County up to the southern city limits of Lebanon.