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Click Here 49 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, February 2, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 10, 2004 Chance of tax fallout paints a grim picture for education By BOB HUNTER Mail Tribune Medford’s school superintendent says his district is not threatening voters but simply being factual when it describes the expected fallout if a statewide funding measure fails. In a Friday speech to the Medford Rogue Rotary Club, school district Superintendent Dick Gregory detailed cuts that have been made and cuts expected to be made if Ballot Measure 30 fails on Feb. 3. "This is not a tactic to scare folks," Gregory said. "These are the hard, cold facts as they relate to the Medford School District." Those facts include the elimination of at least 40 positions, of which 10 would be high school teachers, 13 elementary music teachers and five media specialists. More staff cuts could occur after labor negotiations. Advertisement The elimination of those positions would be in addition to the 140 positions that have already been eliminated in the school district. About 90 of the lost positions were teachers. The Medford district currently has 1,039 employees, Gregory said after the meeting. Measure 30 would raise about $800 million in revenues. Of that, $544.6 million would come from a temporary, graduated income tax surcharge designed to avoid additional cuts to schools, health care, senior services and public safety. The remainder would come from increases or extensions of other taxes, including the state’s cigarette tax and corporate income tax. Vote-by-mail ballots are scheduled to be delivered to voters beginning Jan. 16. Not all of Gregory’s news for the Rotarians on Friday was bad: Figures released by the state Legislative Revenue Office showed a estimated $136 million bump in tax receipts because of an upswing in the economy. That translates to about $600,000 for the Medford School District. But that makes only a small dent in the budget hole facing local schools. Gregory said the district anticipated having to cut $8.2 million from its budget if Measure 30 fails. The revenue increase reduces that projected cut to $7.6 million. The school district announced in November its plans for dealing with a budget shortfall. It listed three tiers of cuts, with the first tier being enacted regardless of the outcome of the Measure 30 vote. The Tier 1 cuts totaled $2.4 million and included cutting 23 staff positions and eliminating a variety of programs, from outdoor education and elementary field trips to the district’s music festival. The Tier 1 cuts will go into effect between February and June. The second and third tiers of cutbacks are linked to the outcome of Measure 30. Tier 2 cuts, which could be imposed unilaterally by the school board, include eliminating about 40 positions, reducing non-classroom days used by teachers and staff before and after the school year and reducing administration by 2.5 positions. Administration costs would amount to 4 percent of the total budget after the Tier 2 cuts, Gregory said. The third-tier cuts of about $5 million would require negotiations with employee unions. They include pay cuts, revamped insurance options and reduced school days. Reach Mail Tribune editor Bob Hunter at 776-4460, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times