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SATURDAY December 6, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 2, 2003 Ballot measure has local schools sweating By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Adding to already heightened budget concerns, a likely tax referedum on the $800 million state income tax surcharge approved by the Oregon Legislature, is already causing heated debate. Opponents of the income tax have said they are confident they will have enough signatures to qualify Ballot Measure 30 for the special election on Feb. 3. Election officials have until Dec. 9 to verify if the petition signatures are valid. At least 50,420 signatures are required for the measure to qualify. Republican and Liberation opponents of the surcharge say the increased taxes are not fair to Oregonians and will not solve the deficit problems facing the state. The likely vote has local educators concerned of the repercussions to schools. Amy Amrhein, chair of the Ashland School Board and Southern Oregon field organizer for the Our Oregon Collation, which supports the tax increase, is concerned what could happen if funding is cut in schools and other state services. "If schools have to cut or take more drastic measures it will affect our local economy," Amrhein said. "I think social services need stability and this will provide needed stability for the next few years. It is a temporary fix though. We all know that." It's vital for the public to know what will happen if the measure fails, she said. "Our main goal is to educate people on the local impacts it could have on social services and public safety," she said. "We're doing what we can to make voters aware of the consequences of their vote either way." Ron Bolstad, vice president for administration and finance at Southern Oregon University, said if the measure fails, SOU will feel the pressure as well. "It certainty would affect us if we would lose state resources" he said. He estimated the university would have to reduce their budget by more than $600,000 if the measure fails. In a phone interview from Beaverton, Richard Burke, executive director of the Libertarian party of Oregon said he was confident the measure would be overturned - just like when voters overturned Measure 28 in January of 2003. "People know the Legislature hasn't done their job on state speeding," he said. "The Legislature is not listening to voters." While he knows opponents have called those opposed to the measure cold and uncaring, Burke said it's actually the opposite. "It will cost jobs, It will cost opportunity," he said. " It creates an environment where people don't come and move to the state." Burke says he feels the opposition is using scare tactics, and that cuts would not happen the way they been portrayed. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams