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68 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, May 24, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 14, 2005 Bates optimistic on SOU-RCC project; others cautious By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — The new revenue forecast issued Friday could provide an indirect lift to the proposed Southern Oregon University-Rogue Community College education center in downtown Medford. That was the prediction of Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, who is enlisting the help of Gov. Ted Kulongoski to get more money for the facility — specifically SOU's share of the costs. Bates said the governor has "kept his powder dry" as far as budget issues go. With the May forecast coming in at $224 million over the late February estimate, Bates said Kulongoski is now "ready to enter the fray." Among his priorities will be increased funding for K-12 and the Medford facility, Bates predicted. "I have assurances from the governor that this is still his No. 1 capital construction project," Bates said. "We may not get all the money we need," he said. "But the forecast definitely helps us." The plan now is to tap into Lottery or Economic Development Department funding to come up with additional dollars. Advertisement "This is economic development with a capital E," Bates said of the $23.3 million facility anchoring a downtown urban renewal effort. Projections by state economists show anticipated revenues for the upcoming 2005-07 biennium of about $12.5 billion. Much of the increase is in personal tax collections because of rising employment. RCC’s share of the Medford center is already in the bank, thanks to local approval of a bond measure to match state funding. SOU's request for $5.4 million in general fund dollars to match its $5.9 million in bonding authority is not currently included in the budget. Bates remains optimistic that the state will step in with some of the money. Otherwise, he says, "If we (Southern Oregon legislators) can't bring some bacon home, what are we doing up here?" Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, said that the Legislature should limit its spending to the $12.393 billion cap agreed upon by both parties earlier in the session. He said the excess should go into an ending balance account as a cushion against bad economic times. "We have an opportunity to learn from history, not repeat it," he said. Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, agreed. "We need to discipline ourselves," he said. "Otherwise we will find ourselves in the same situation as the 2003 session." The economic slump two years ago resulted in the longest legislative session in the state's history. Of the RCC/SOU project, Richardson said he is working with House budget chief Rep. Wayne Scott, R-Canby, to see if he can persuade him to come up with additional funding. Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, said he would encourage legislative leaders to break the cap "to give Oregon residents hope that we are building again." "I think that shows leadership," he said, citing specifically the need to improve funding for K-12, community colleges and some social services programs. Don Jepsen is a free-lance writer living in Salem. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s