Vote YES for school funding now:
BM 13 provides 220 million dollars for school funding now. This money is needed to make up for the revenue short fall resulting from the economic recession we are experiencing. Without these dollars local schools will have to further cut their budgets, this means teachers and that means larger classes with less individual attention. Attention children desperately need to insure they reach their potential. Further, fewer teachers mean loss of programs. Programs that our children need to prepare them for the future. Programs our children need to enable them to meet the current requirements for advancement and graduation. And, programs Oregon needs to continue filling the skilled job markets our new economy is creating.
Vote YES for school funding in the future:
BM 13 creates an Education Stability Fund. Our current revenue shortfall is the result of a recession. Oregon's current and future children cannot afford to have economic downturns rob them of their educational opportunities. BM 13 will provide for future stable education funding. History tells us recessions tend to run in ten-year cycles. By the next recession this Fund should have almost a Billion dollars balance: A balance that will ensure educational stability in Oregon.
Vote YES for educational stability:
There is no better way to ensure stability in Oregon's educational funding than to save for the economic down turns. BM 13 does just that. Funding for BM 13 will come from lottery receipts. Currently 15% of the lottery receipts go to the already existing Education Endowment Fund account. BM 13 merely renames that account and restructures it as a savings account dedicated to education. BM 13 protects Oregon's children against future economic recessions. It is the responsible way to guarantee our schools will always have the necessary resources to provide a sound basic education. Please vote yes for Oregon's children.
(This information furnished by Bob Jenson.)
Measure 13 gives us the opportunity to create a long sought after rainy day fund and stabilize school funding when times are tough. The money will come from an existing state savings account that is essentially unused and will not increase your taxes or create any new fees. Once established, the School Stability Fund will immediately provide $220 million dollars to public education this fiscal year to stop devastating cuts. The fund will have an additional $60 million dollars set aside in it, which is expected to grow to well over $600 million dollars over the next decade. It will be set aside for future public education needs.
WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL STABILITY FUND MEAN TO YOU?
The next time Oregon faces serious economic challenges, our schools could be protected from serious cutbacks and already burdened Oregonians could be protected from tax increases. And, while we weather the end of this recession, the School Stability Fund will provide $220 million dollars to our public schools this coming fiscal year.
WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THE SCHOOL STABILITY FUND?
Our public schools will suffer over $300 million dollars of cuts in state funding next fiscal year. This could lead to school closures, larger class sizes, and layoffs for many of our quality teachers. There are no other funds available to help mitigate the devastating cuts that will happen to our schools.
If this measure fails massive cuts or tax increases are the only other options. Neither of which will be positive for Oregon's struggling economy.
PLEASE SUPPORT OREGON'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TODAY AND FOR THE YEARS TO COME!
This information and endorsement is sponsored by:
State Representative Max Williams-Tigard
State Representative Vic Backlund-Keizer
State Representative Tim Knopp-Bend
(This information furnished by Tim Knopp.)
Oregon is one of only three states without a budget stability fund to help protect its public schools from drastic cuts during an economic recession.
We need a school stability fund now more than ever. Most of the funding of our local schools comes from the state. So when the state's revenues fall during a recession, it means direct cuts to schools. Like a savings account, the school stability fund can be used to fund schools during hard times.
That's why it is so important to vote yes on Ballot Measure 13 to create a school stability fund to protect our schools.
Next school year, the state's school budget is short more than $300 million because of the economic recession in Oregon. This huge shortfall will seriously hurt the classroom. Our children deserve better.
That's why, in addition to establishing a stability fund for the future, Measure 13 transfers $220 million from the fund to schools now. This will help schools weather the current economic downturn.
Measure 13 sensibly changes the existing Education Endowment Fund to a permanent school stability fund. It doesn't take money from other programs or services. Measure 13 doesn't raise taxes. And the school stability fund will be there for schools in the future. It will continue to grow each year from lottery funds.
A budget fund also will help protect the state's good credit, which local school districts rely on when issuing bonds. And good credit keeps government costs down.
Ballot Measure 13 offers Oregon a prudent financial tool to strengthen our finances and protect our schools now and in the future.
Join us, Oregon's Democratic State Treasurer and Republican House Speaker Pro Tem, in bipartisan support of Measure 13. It's good for Oregon.
VOTE YES ON MEASURE 13
Randall Edwards, State Treasurer
Rep. Lane Shetterly, House Speaker pro tem
(This information furnished by Randall Edwards, State Treasurer, Rep. Lane Shetterly, Speaker pro tem.)
A Bipartisan Effort Placed Measure 13 on the Ballot
House and Senate Democrats presented the initial proposal for a School Stability Fund, and then Republicans quickly joined the effort. Democrats and Republicans worked together to place the School Stability Fund before Oregon voters. Members of both parties decided to give Oregonians the chance to create the state's first ever rainy day fund for schools.
Democrats Who Voted Yes on HJR 76
(Oregon House Roll Call, March 2, 2002):
Representative Devlin
Representative Monnes Anderson
Representative Ringo
Representative Schrader
Representative Verger
Oregon's Legislative Leaders Back the School Stability Fund
Legislative leaders from the Oregon House and Senate support Measure 13. House Speaker Mark Simmons, Senate Majority Leader Dave Nelson and House Majority Leader Karen Minnis all urge you to vote yes on Measure 13.
"The next time Oregon faces serious economic challenges, the School Stability Fund could protect our schools from serious cutbacks and already burdened Oregonians could be protected from tax increases."
JOIN YOUR OREGON LEGISLATORS
IN SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL STABILITY FUND
VOTE YES ON MEASURE 13
(This information furnished by House Speaker Mark Simmons.)