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38 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, December 19, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | 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 October 7, 2003 Educators drum up support for revenue package By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Last winter, educators hit by budget cut after budget cut quietly supported a temporary income tax increase, only to see the proposal rejected by voters. This time around, local educators and administrators vow to be vocal in their support of a new plan that would raise $826 million for schools and social services through temporary tax hikes. Opponents of the revenue package already have begun to gather signatures to force the issue to a vote in February. Before last winter’s vote on Measure 28, "I guess everybody was really depressed and self-defeating, because things were really, really bad" for schools, said Medford School Board Chairman Mike Moran. "That’s not going to happen again." Advertisement "I was more quiet then," said Amy Amrhein, Ashland School Board chairwoman. "This time around I’m feeling more desperate." The proposal includes a three-year surtax and an increase in the corporate minimum tax. For a household making $36,461 — the median income in Jackson County in 1999 — the surtax would cost $43 a year. If the voters ultimately reject the plan, Medford school board member Peggy Penland said districts will be forced to cut millions from budgets already shaved to the bone. Those cuts would most likely include employees or instructional days, she added. "It’s going to be a train wreck for the state if this goes down," said Penland. "It’s very important that we get started now." Amrhein and Penland are both members of the Southern Oregon chapter of Our Oregon, a coalition in support of the revenue package. The group has launched a campaign to educate Oregonians about the revenue package. Penland said she’ll take part in the first phase of the effort, which organizers call "think before you ink" or "decline to sign." It urges residents not to put their names on a petition that would place the referendum before voters. On Monday, it was unclear whether any petitions had begun to circulate in Jackson County. "I think that’s our best hope right now, keeping this off the ballot," Penland said. If the issue is placed on the February ballot, members of Our Oregon plan to blanket the community to gain support for keeping the revenue package alive. Also helping Our Oregon with its campaign are members of the local chapter of the national grassroots organization, Stand for Children. Member Laurie Kappel, who operates a day-care center in Phoenix, is hopeful that Oregon voters will support the surtax now that residents are coping with decreased social services and crowded classrooms. "I think the fallout of Measure 28 has made people more aware of the situation," she said. "We need the temporary fix. Our schools and our children are at risk. I think it’s up to us to support it." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times