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House approves aid for schools $4.81 billion package sent to Senate By PETER WONG SALEM -- Southern Oregon lawmakers were split Wednesday night as the House approved $4.81 billion in aid to Oregon's 198 school districts for the next two years. The region's five Republicans voted for it, and two Democrats against it, on the 33-24 vote that moved the budget to the Senate. Wednesday's vote, the first by either chamber on the largest item in the $11 billion state budget, is only one more step toward approval of final aid. A figure still is being negotiated by the Legislature's Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber. "I think the $4.81 billion provides an excellent base," said Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, after the vote. "But we are still involved in negotiations, and we will see what the governor's priorities are -- salmon and other issues, or elementary and secondary education." Property tax limits that Oregon voters have approved this decade have shifted the support of schools to income taxes from the general fund, which now pays 70 percent. Three hours of debate, the longest this session, preceded the vote. Democrats said the amount is inadequate for schools to reduce class sizes, buy materials, and train teachers to educate students to attain the state's new academic standards. "What we are doing today with this budget is child theft, pure and simple," said Rep. Judy Uherbelau of Ashland. "We are stealing from our children's possibilities and futures. "Don't give me bull about accountability or having to raise taxes. It is this body that has not been accountable. Each of us knows, whether we are willing or not to acknowledge it, that we could have gotten a sufficient amount without raising taxes or harming other valuable services." House Minority Leader Kitty Piercy of Eugene said that on a tour a few months ago, she saw a leaky roof at Eagle Point Junior High School, and art and music rooms without teachers at Talent Elementary School. "Many small school districts are in similar or even worse shape," Piercy said. The Legislature's Democrats and Kitzhaber have wanted $4.95 billion. But Republicans said the amount for schools is more than generous, considering their initial offer of $4.73 billion. Holding a copy of his hometown telephone book, Rep. Carl Wilson of Grants Pass took issue with Uherbelau and Piercy. "I heard the concern about taxes and accountability called bull," he said. "These people in Grants Pass, Rogue River and Cave Junction will be very amused to hear that. Don't insult these people. These are the people who do not want their taxes raised." Wilson, a Navy veteran, also said he saw firsthand in Vietnam that physical facilities for schools aren't everything. For Medford and other Southern Oregon districts, the amount of state aid that Republican leaders propose would result in modest increases of about 3.5 percent in per-student spending next school year. The statewide per-student average would go up about 3.3 percent, from $4,810 to $4,968. Patridge and Rep. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, say they can defend their votes for a lower amount than many school advocates want. "It helps out my districts," Atkinson said. "I'm proud we were able as a (Republican) caucus to move the budget up from where the governor started. It took awhile for our caucus to galvanize and do the right thing." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA