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SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 18, 2002 School fund passes School officials can stop holding their breath for now as 61 percent approve Measure 19 By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County schools cleared a major budget hurdle Tuesday with the overwhelming passage of Measure 19. With 66 percent of the statewide vote tallied, 61 percent voted to siphon off $150 million from a school endowment fund, leaving $98 million behind to build a rainy-day fund. Voters also approved, with 65 percent in favor, Measure 20, which increases cigarette taxes by 60 cents a pack to $1.28, which would provide $67.3 million to offset a cut made earlier in the Oregon Health Plan for low-income people. Lawmakers put both measures on the ballot during their third special session in June. The House and Senate were struggling to end their fifth special session Tuesday as Oregonians cast ballots on the two measures. School officials welcomed the news after two years of slashing budgets, with the prospect of more to come as legislators wrestle with revenue shortfalls. Tricia Prendergast, Medford School District board member, said, "I feel this vote shows Oregonians have the courage to stand up for education." Prendergast, whose district has lost 10 percent of its teaching staff from reductions, hopes the legislative and economic crisis will prod lawmakers into making the tough choices to find a stable solution to education funding. Lenore Gebhard, Central Point school board chairwoman, was relieved that this financial hurdle had been overcome. But Gebhard, whose district has also lost 10 percent of its teaching staff, said, "It will not solve the problem. The problem will only be solved when the state of Oregon finds a way to fund schools without taking out a loan on education." Yvonne Fletes, Eagle Point school board member, said, "I’m glad we don’t have to worry about it. I’m relieved it passed." The school district has a $2 million fund balance that could have been used if the measure failed. "We’re a lot better off than many school districts," said Fletes. But the school system was hoping to keep enough money aside to help with the opening of the new schools being built. With the state expecting more revenue problems, Fletes said, "It’s time for a sales tax. Homeowners can’t continue to bear the burden through property taxes." If Measure 19 had failed, Jackson County schools would have slashed $7 million in teaching positions and other staff during the middle of the school year. Voters in May rejected a similar measure that would have scooped $220 million from the same endowment fund. Gov. John Kitzhaber, the state’s largest teachers union and school boards had opposed the May measure on grounds that it represented a one-time accounting move rather than permanent, new revenue. Kitzhaber and the others supported the measure on Tuesday’s ballot, however, mainly because of the state’s worsening revenue picture. It also would direct that 18 percent of Lottery profits, instead of the current 15 percent, would go into the rainy-day fund annually to help it grow for future use. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Jackson County-wide voter turnout: 38.88 percent, unofficial results as of 11 p.m. Tuesdy State Measure 19 — Yes votes: 61.9 percent, No votes: 36.7 percent State Measure 20 — Yes votes: 62.6 percent, No votes: 37.02 percent White City Law Enforcement District serial levy — Yes votes: 52.3 percent, No votes: 46.3 percent. Unofficial turnout: 32.4 percent Shady Cove Water District formation — Yes votes: 62.07 percent, No votes: 36.5 percent. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S