Looking good, K-12 education budget begins legislative journey 
March 23, 2007 Issue (67k ) of Legislative Highlights

On Thursday, Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby) and Rep. Mary Nolan (D-Portland), co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee, released their proposed budget for 2007-09, calling for an investment of $6.245 billion for K-12 schools. The proposal calls for a State School Fund of $5.985 billion and a School Improvement Fund investment of $260 million. 

"The school funding budget released today shows a commitment to public education," said OSBA Executive Director Kevin McCann, noting it represents an 18 percent increase over the current budget. At $6.245 billion, it is $460 million over the Essential Budget Level. 

"We applaud the co-chairs for making significant progress toward a $6.3 billion goal set by a broad-based education coalition that includes OSBA," McCann said. "Advocacy work by local board members needs to continue as we push for the additional funding." 

A coalition of education advocacy organizations including OSBA called for $6.3 billion for schools at the start of the Legislative Session and has worked toward that outcome since then. 

"The result of a unified voice from a strong education coalition was seen today," said David Williams, OSBA's Legislative & Public Affairs specialist. "We've been able to dramatically change the debate about school funding and effectively move the appropriation up." 

The coalition consisted of OSBA, Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, Oregon Education Association, American Federation of Teachers-Oregon, Oregon PTA, Oregon School Employees Association, Stand for Children, Oregon Small Schools Association, and Oregon Association of ESDs. 

As noted, the proposed appropriation of $6.245 billion is 18 percent more than was budgeted for 2005-07 and $185 million more than the governor proposed in December. 

Combined with local revenues, schools would have a budget of $9.062 billion for 2007-09. 

The co-chairs' budget for community colleges, however, was $16 million less than what the governor proposed, $467 million. It represents an increase from 2005-07 of roughly nine percent. 

McCann expressed concern about the proposed community college funding level: "If education is truly a continuum, we need a stronger investment for community colleges." 

The so-called "co-chairs' budget" is the traditional starting point for the legislature as it prepares its 2007-09 budget. While the budget signals the intention of the Legislature, it has yet to pass through the rigorous Ways and Means process. 

In May, the state's revenue forecast will allow legislators to develop firmer estimates of how much revenue will be available for the budget.