House approves K-12 education budget

The Oregon House today approved a K-12 education budget of $6 billion, with $200 million of that set aside in a special reserve account. After failing to approve the bill last Wednesday, the House came back Thursday, June 25, and passed the bill by a wide margin, overriding a veto earlier in the week by Governor Ted Kulongoski.

"All session long we have worked closely with the Governor and his staff on critical issues including the transportation package, health care reform and other important measures," said House Speaker Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas County). "Our disagreement over this issue was minor and without rancor. Now we are set at a funding level for schools that provides an adequate level for schools and still retains $500 million in reserves."

The vote on the K-12 budget bill SB 5520 was 53-6. A second bill that released some funds from the reserve accounts was also re-passed by the House on a 51-8 vote.

"This was one of the critical issues remaining for us to resolve before we end the session," said Hunt. "We hope parents, students and teachers feel more confident in the funding districts will receive, and that school districts will be cautious in laying off teachers or cutting programs because they are fearful of the amount of funding two years from now."

The House action keeps the Sisters School District on course with its budget plans.

"The plan is to stick with the budget we passed," said board chair Christine Jones, "unless and until we receive indications that our allocation of the SSF (State School Fund) is being cut."

Jones said that "the board finance subcommittee discussed today (Thursday) what would happen if funding for the 2009-10 school year is cut during the course of the year. Should that come to pass, once we know the magnitude of the cut, we would hope to enter into discussions with the unions on how best to absorb those cuts. The committee also agreed that the superintendent would also develop plans for expenditure reductions reflecting the priorities established in the public input sessions that could be implemented mid-year if necessary."