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Hello Friends and Neighbors,
Stable Public Education Funding
Yesterday, the Oregon Senate approved a $7.255 billion
budget for our state’s public schools. The budget is a $600 million increase
over the last biennium, which will provide stability for most school districts
while also funding full-day kindergarten for children throughout Oregon for the
first time in state history.
“Today we are voting on a budget that will provide stability for
our schools and allow districts to prepare for the 2015-2016 school year when
we finally offer free full day kindergarten for all Oregon kids,” I stated
yesterday when I carried the bill on the Senate floor as o-chair of the Ways
and Means Subcommittee on Education. “As a lifelong educator, I have always
fought for more dollars in our classroom. With today’s vote we set the floor
for funding—not the maximum amount of funding that our schools can get, but
the minimum.”
 At our Town Hall on Saturday, I explained how education funding is going to increase the amount of money allocated per student in our schools.
This investment is part of a multi-year effort to get education funding back on track after years of recessionary cuts. In 2013, the Legislature added $1 billion to Oregon’s K-12 schools, approving the largest budget in state history as the economy began to improve. The $7.255 billion budget approved yesterday is a nine percent increase that will maintain that historic boost, and automatically increase school funding if more money is available after the next economic and revenue forecast in May.
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Given the hard decisions we must make as your representatives at the Capitol, I believe this budget is realistic, responsible, and a good starting point for our students.
The $7.255 billion K-12 budget (House Bill 5017) includes:
- $600 million more than the 2013-15 K-12 budget, maintaining the historic $1 billion increase the Legislature approved in 2013
- Full funding for full-day kindergarten
- Targeted investments to support children with disabilities, low-income students, and English language learners
- A trigger that will send 40 percent of new revenue to the State School Fund if the economy shows improvement in the May economic and revenue forecast
HB 5017 will now go to the Governor’s desk where she is expected to sign it.
To be clear—Our K-12 budget is an improvement over recent years, but
I know we need to do better.
I am committed to continuing our reinvestment in schools since the
dramatic loss of resources during the Great Recession. I want to commend the
hard work and dedication of our teachers and education professionals who give
their students the individual attention they need to succeed. I know that
budget constraints make their jobs very difficult. I will continue to
prioritize our schools and work with my colleagues and community members alike
to find ways to get more dollars into our classrooms.
As always, please feel free to contact my office with your ideas,
priorities and concerns about public education funding or any other issue. I’m
always eager to hear from you! You can keep in touch with my office by
following my Facebook page, by emailing us at Sen.RodMonroe@state.or.us,
or calling us at the State Capitol, at (503) 986-1724.
Best regards,
Senator Rod Monroe
Senate District 24 – East Portland and Happy Valley
email: Sen.RodMonroe@state.or.us I phone: 503-986-1724
address: 900 Court St NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/monroe
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