Ray among 'no' voters on measure
'Rainy-day' spending fund looks to put a dent in growth spending; many of campus oppose measure
Thomas De Vicq
Issue date: 10/24/06 Section: News
Measure 48, on the ballot this November, proposes to restrict spending of $2.2 billion out of a $35.6 billion revenue-based budget in the state to create a "rainy day fund."
The state legislature would then have the ability to refund the $2.2 billion to taxpayers, or - with a two-thirds vote by the house and senate - legislators could refer a plan to voters to spend the funds on state services.
Supporters of the measure say the state needs to control its spending. An argument in favor of the measure in the Oregon Voter's Pamphlet says that spending has increased at a rate far higher than that of inflation.
Jock Mills, OSU's director of government relations, voiced some disapproval about the measure.
"It doesn't make sense," he said. "You can never, under a spending limit, increase the number of students going to universities."
This is true even though the rate of prospective students is increasing, Mills said.
Mills added that state spending for prisons - where population rates are also increasing - is required by the state. However, Mills said that because the state is not required to pay for university programs, the restricted funds by Measure 48 would force some programs to be cut.
One of the restrictions of Measure 48 is that it ties spending limits to population growth and inflation.
As an example, using a generic population increase model, Mills explained that baby boomer population rates are increasing at a higher level than the state as a whole.
This is important, he said, because of the amount of resources this demographic requires.
Aside from social services for baby boomers, education systems across the state are projected to suffer funding losses, as shown by a summary sheet from Oregon's Department of Administrative Services and Legislative Revenue Office.
The education system as a whole took up 30 percent of state spending for the biennium of 2005-2007, according to the summary. The percent decrease in funds for the 2007-2009 biennium, assuming Measure 48 passes, ranges from 6.1 percent to 7.3 percent. The effects of these projected cuts would be felt across most societal institutions, including services for children, economic development and environmental health.
"Generally more people are opposed to it," Mills said.
As an indication of some of the opposition to Measure 48, presidents from many universities across Oregon have indicated they will vote no, including OSU President Ed Ray.
The state legislature would then have the ability to refund the $2.2 billion to taxpayers, or - with a two-thirds vote by the house and senate - legislators could refer a plan to voters to spend the funds on state services.
Supporters of the measure say the state needs to control its spending. An argument in favor of the measure in the Oregon Voter's Pamphlet says that spending has increased at a rate far higher than that of inflation.
Jock Mills, OSU's director of government relations, voiced some disapproval about the measure.
"It doesn't make sense," he said. "You can never, under a spending limit, increase the number of students going to universities."
This is true even though the rate of prospective students is increasing, Mills said.
Mills added that state spending for prisons - where population rates are also increasing - is required by the state. However, Mills said that because the state is not required to pay for university programs, the restricted funds by Measure 48 would force some programs to be cut.
One of the restrictions of Measure 48 is that it ties spending limits to population growth and inflation.
As an example, using a generic population increase model, Mills explained that baby boomer population rates are increasing at a higher level than the state as a whole.
This is important, he said, because of the amount of resources this demographic requires.
Aside from social services for baby boomers, education systems across the state are projected to suffer funding losses, as shown by a summary sheet from Oregon's Department of Administrative Services and Legislative Revenue Office.
The education system as a whole took up 30 percent of state spending for the biennium of 2005-2007, according to the summary. The percent decrease in funds for the 2007-2009 biennium, assuming Measure 48 passes, ranges from 6.1 percent to 7.3 percent. The effects of these projected cuts would be felt across most societal institutions, including services for children, economic development and environmental health.
"Generally more people are opposed to it," Mills said.
As an indication of some of the opposition to Measure 48, presidents from many universities across Oregon have indicated they will vote no, including OSU President Ed Ray.
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