I spent almost three days last week in Salem hearing from the Governor and legislators in leadership positions as well as meeting with local legislators. I am pleased to say that the members of our local delegation with whom I met are supportive of increasing the governor's proposal from $483 million to $529 million for Oregon's community colleges and plan to advocate strongly for that increase. I, along with a board member, have meetings scheduled with three more legislators in the coming week and board members Roger Hall and Susie Johnston also have two meetings scheduled. Our capital request for the Health and Wellness building will be heard in committee next Monday.

While there is some optimism in the capital among community college folks it will be a challenge. What I heard in Salem last week is that the governor's budget has some holes in it. He built the budget on new taxes: cigarette tax, increasing the corporate minimum, eliminating the corporate kicker etc. I think that some, if not all, will eventually make it through the process but until they do not everything in the budget is covered. For example, the governor proposed a vehicle tax to fund Oregon State Police. People are saying that this tax is dead on arrival. That means that funding for OSP needs to come from somewhere else. You get the picture....as some of these options for new revenue are eliminated it makes it harder to find the money to increase our funding. However, it can be done. In fact, it must be done and that is the message we are giving legislators.

Legislative talking points will be coming your way soon.

Mary