WHEREAS, the Oregon Legislative Assembly met in special session between September 1 and September 18 for the fifth time this year to re-balance the 2001-03 state budget in light of a significant shortfall in general fund revenue; and
WHEREAS, as a part of its fifth special session state budget re-balance package, the legislature referred Measure 28 to Oregon voters for their consideration at a special election to be held on January 28, 2003; and
WHEREAS, Measure 28 proposes a temporary three-year increase in personal and corporate income tax rates to backfill $313 million in budget cuts for the 2001-03 biennium and to provide $412 million in additional general fund revenue to support the 2003-05 state budget; and
WHEREAS, Measure 28 will restore $95 million, or an average of $145 per weighted student (ADMw), in K-12 cuts for the 2002-03 school year; and
WHEREAS, Oregon’s K-12 schools have already suffered $132 million, or $202 per weighted student, in budget reductions for 2002-03; and
WHEREAS, deeper cuts to Oregon’s K-12 schools this year will mean, for example, larger class sizes, a shortened school year and delays in purchasing updated textbooks and other needed instructional materials, and result in a direct negative impact on student learning; and
WHEREAS, for the average Oregon taxpayer, Measure 28 will result in an increase of only $114 per year – or $9.50 per month
-- in personal income taxes for the next three years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED that the membership of the Oregon School Boards Association strongly supports Measure 28 as essential to providing needed funds to operate this year’s K-12 school programs as well as prevent deeper budget cuts in the next two years; and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the membership of the Oregon School Boards Association strongly urges its parents, staff and community members to actively support Measure 28.
Submitted by: OSBA
Board of Directors
Resolutions Committee recommendation: Do Pass
Membership Action: Adopted at Nov. 16, 2002, Annual Meeting
