Editorial

Measure 30: Yes

Sisters area voters should vote to approve Measure 30 on the ballots received last week.

We can't afford not to.

Cuts to Sisters schools that will follow the defeat of Measure 30 would damage the quality education this whole community strives so hard to promote.

The school district stands to lose some $600,000 over the next two years. That means cutting school days, laying off quality employees, cutting programs.

Last weekend, Sisters enjoyed an outstanding Starry Nights concert. Starry Nights has raised more than $300,000 over six years to support programs threatened by cuts.

It would take 12 more years of Starry Nights concerts just to catch up to the cuts that will follow a defeat of Measure 30.

When a community as committed and generous as Sisters has to run at full speed to stand still, imagine the damage being done in less fortunate communities.

The tax surcharge that Measure 30 would confirm came from a bipartisan agreement on what was necessary to balance the budget and avoid significant cuts to vital services.

Nobody likes paying more taxes, especially when times are tight. But the price tag for allowing education and public health and safety to deteriorate is far higher than the tax bill.

Opponents say a tax surcharge will put a drag on economic recovery. But quality schools and a decent public health care system are also vital to economic health. So is public safety. If we let vital services deteriorate now, we'll be paying the price economically and socially for decades.

It would be nice to think that defeating Measure 30 would "send a message" and force the Legislature to get its house in order. We need real tax reform and we need to get serious about deciding what services government should provide, how much they really cost and how we pay for them.

But defeating Measure 30 won't bring any of those things. It will only bring cuts we can't afford.

Measure 30 may be a Band-aid at best, but it is what we have on hand to stop the bleeding. We need to use it.

Jim Cornelius, Editor