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Click Here 46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 29, 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 March 11, 2003 Washington Elementary School classroom in Medford sits empty Monday afternoon. Legislators face 2003-05 budget with 1999 dollars More cuts could destroy system that ranks near the top in SATs By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Slashing school days might seem like a mild remedy for Oregon’s hard-hit educational system after the shock of next year’s funding gap sinks in. After carving out more than $500 million from the state’s $5.2 billion K-12 budget during the past two years, the Legislature is looking at more cuts as it heads into the 2003-05 budget cycle. House Majority Whip Rob Patridge, R-Medford, said legislators are still trying to figure out this deepening fiscal chasm that could gut the state budget again. "People don’t realize the magnitude of the problem," he said. "We’re basically budgeting at 1999-01 levels." In 2001, legislators approved a $5.2 billion education budget, but after five special sessions and the failure of Measure 28, it was reduced to $4.7 billion. If the state funds at 1999 levels next year, schools could be looking at $4.6 billion, which doesn’t take into account inflation since then. Patridge, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, said legislators are looking for greater efficiencies in government to offset some of the revenue reductions caused by a weakening economy. Many districts cut days out of the school year, but Patridge said he would have preferred that teachers agree to keep working on those days without pay. Patridge has proposed bills that would help schools control personnel costs — which amount to about 85 percent of the education budget — by making it more difficult to automatically give raises. Another bill proposes the consolidation of school districts to save overhead costs. For instance, Jackson County’s nine districts would be placed under one administrative body, producing potential savings. Democratic Rep. Alan Bates of Ashland said Oregon has a first-rate school system that should be preserved. He thinks schools’ integrity might be undermined if they lose self-control under the consolidation plan. Bates and Republican Sen. Lenn Hannon of Ashland both have discussed the possibility of establishing a sales tax — dreaded by many Oregonians — as a way to create a stable funding source for education. "We will ask ourselves, can we live with these cuts or can we raise revenue to reverse these cuts?" he said. Some have criticized Oregon’s school system as being expensive to run compared to the national average. But Bates said the state also has made a commitment to maintain a large number of rural schools, which are more expensive to operate. Measured against other states’ educational standards, Oregon ranks at the top of the list, he said. "Our SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores grade in the top 2 or 3 in the country," said Bates. "Our state is doing something right." Central Point schools, like others in the county, might receive funding comparable to 1999 levels, but they still will face contractual cost-of-living raises, higher insurance premiums, increased contributions to the state’s Public Employees Retirement System and other cost hikes. Vicki Robinson, Central Point schools finance director, said she is in the dark about what to expect next year, even though she will begin preparing the district’s budget soon. "There are still a lot of questions with no answers," she said. "There are so many ifs." Peggy Penland, Medford school board member, said, "I see higher class sizes, teachers burning out, and parents and children being frustrated. And, I see many kids not meeting the standards." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, 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