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--> --> Citizens speak out against cuts in education, services SALEM (AP) - A 90-year-old woman deplored talk of cutting senior services while parents said inadequate school funding clouds their children's' future as lawmakers continued hearings Thursday on the state's budget woes. The House Budget Prioritization Committee has spent the week reviewing possible spending cuts to deal with a $700 million revenue shortfall. After days of hearing from lobbyists and government officials pleading that their programs be protected, time was set aside Thursday for any citizens to talk. Hollis Haney of Portland told legislators she's "appalled" at suggestions that funding for programs that help low-income elderly people be reduced or even eliminated. Haney, who'll turn 91 next month, particularly opposes cutting money for Project Independence that helps seniors stay at home and avoid having to move to nursing homes. The program pays a worker to help Haney with meals and housekeeping needs. Under a budget-cut draft sent to Gov. John Kitzhaber, the state Human Services Department proposes eliminating the program to save about $5.8 million, if the department has to make cuts averaging 4 percent. That would end the services for about 3,500 people. "I can't believe they want to cut the budget for senior citizens after all the years they have worked," Haney said. Kitzhaber has said the revenue shortfall likely will force budget cuts of about 8 percent. He has said he won't propose across-the-board reductions "Why do we have to be cut 100 percent," said Diane Donaca of the Oregon Dental Hygienists Association, protesting a proposal to eliminate dental coverage for 190,000 low-income adults insured by the Oregon Health Plan. She suggested instead that patients be charged a copay amount for their treatments. Kitzhaber is to release a budget-balancing plan in early January, ahead of a special legislative session expected to he held in February. Economists have reduced their revenue estimates by $700 million since legislators wrapped up the 2001-03 budget in July, mostly because of recession-caused drop in tax collections. Kitzhaber said Wednesday his budget proposal will reduce spending by closer to $900 million, in order to cover increased demand for services such as welfare and to leave a cushion in event the economy worsens. Education and social service programs are certain to take some cuts because they account for more than 80 percent of the $12 billion budget. Kitzhaber has said education will have to shoulder a share of the reductions, while parents told the committee schools are already lagging in quality. Dave Tohler of Cave Junction said his son who attends Illinois Valley High School will have difficulty gaining college admission because tight budgets forced elimination of higher-level math courses. The school district also has eliminated elementary school art, music and counseling and closed on school, forcing some students to travel two hours a day to and from classes. Janet Hogan of Beaverton said the past 10 years, since voters drastically slashed property taxes in 1990 and forced the bulk of school costs onto the state, has been a "decade of disinvestment" in education. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing