Measures could cost Sisters schools

School officials in Sisters and across the state are holding their breath over the fate of two ballot measures that could have an enormous impact on school budgets.

Oregon voters must pass judgment on Ballot Measures 41 and 48 on Tuesday, November 7. The passage of either one or both measures will impact the funding for state services, including the revenue Sisters schools receive.

Ballot Measure 41 would allow Oregonians to take a deduction on their Oregon state taxes equal to that of the Federal exemptions deduction.

Ballot Measure 48 amends the Oregon Constitution to limit biennial (every two years) percentage increase in state spending to a percentage increase in state population plus inflation.

The Oregon School Boards Association opposes both measures. The association warns that if the measures pass, spending for many state services, including school funding, will be reduced. The association estimates that if Measure 48 passes the revenue the Sisters School District receives from the State School Fund will be reduced during the 2007-09 biennium, from a low of $ 926,396 to a high of $ 2,104,446.

In addition, should Measure 41 pass, the association estimates the Sisters district will lose $857,969. In the current 2005-07 biennium, the passage of Measure 48 would cut revenues to Sisters schools by $1.05 million.

Sisters School Board Chairman Rob Corrigan said, "The cuts we can expect from Measures 41 and 48 are almost 14 percent of the district's total budget. In rough terms, this reduction is equivalent to what our district currently spends to educate our kindergarten, first and second grade students combined."

Measure 41 would allow Oregon taxpayers to use the total of their federal tax deduction exemptions on their Oregon tax returns. Although the amount that individual taxpayers pay may be reduced, state revenue will also be reduced, which, in turn, will reduce the revenue schools receive. Measure 48 would impose constitutional limits on state spending.

The measure uses state population and inflation as the formula to determine the amount of state spending. Opponents suggest that this formula ignores the real cost of sustaining state services such as public education and health care. Opponents also suggest the measure does not take into account that Oregon's senior and prison populations are growing faster than the state's general population rate.

A "No" vote on measure 48 retains the existing statute that caps appropriations on the basis of personal income in Oregon and rejects the addition to the constitution of the provision that limits spending increases to a formula based on population increase and inflation.

Sisters School District Superintendent Ted Thonstad encourages the public to read the voters pamphlet and become aware of the impact Measures 41 and 48 will have on the Sisters School District should they be passed.