State Senator Michael Dembrow, who represents much of Northeast Portland, chats with Parkrose Faculty Association’s Jennifer Handsaker at the annual East County Educators Roundtable held at Parkrose Middle School in January.
STAFF/2017
East County schools have a problem that’s green and rhymes with “honey.” That’s because a $1.8-billion shortfall in Oregon’s 2017–19 budget is currently set to cause some dramatic cuts to public services, including public schools. At the annual East County Educator Roundtable January open house with educators and legislators in attendance, State Senator Michael Dembrow gave his outlook for K–12 schools in east Portland, along with the rest of the state’s public schools. He offered two budget scenarios for next year. The first scenario upholds the status quo. “The governor’s budget—which came out in early December—essentially largely held K-12 education harmless,” said Dembrow. “Meaning that there are no improvements, certainly. But enough money to allow us to offer next year what we’re offering this year.”
This scenario assumes legislators will be able to increase revenue by raising taxes: specifically, a substantial tobacco tax and liquor tax, among others. It also forces districts to absorb PERS increases, resulting in a net decrease in funds from this year. The second budget scenario assumes no new dollars. Dembrow offered a bleaker assessment of that scenario. “K–12 gets hammered. Less so than other parts of the budget, but still, some real hits.”
