School funding in Oregon: This *is* that rainy day

The good news is that the state of Oregon actually has a rainy day fund that can be used for K-12 education. The bad news is that it may not get used, despite the fact that it's, uh, really raining. And I don't mean literally, although that happens to be true, too.

"It's raining, it's pouring, hear what we have to say" is the refrain in this great grassroots video about the sorry state of school funding in Oregon.  Watch it, then email your legislators to say enough is enough. 

Why contact your state legislator?  Because - as we've talked about before - they need to know that the time has come to end this madness once and for all - to admit that our current revenue collection system is failing our schools and our children.  To raise taxes on corporations that often pay as little as $10/year in taxes and the wealthiest Oregonians (think >$250,000).  It's. just. time. to. change. it.  Easier said than done, yes, but who said running a state was easy? 

Send that email!  Here's what you will say, thanks to Stand for Children for saying it so well:

We are in a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis that requires bold steps from state leaders. If we don't act now, Oregon's public schools could be forced to cut 5,500 teachers.

Oregon's students already learn in the largest elementary classes in the nation and have one of the shortest school years. We need to prevent cuts to vital services like schools that hurt the long-term health of our families and our communities. Every dollar invested in public education returns $9 to the community.

We need a balanced solution that protects the vulnerable and doesn't ask the middle class to bear additional hardship. Oregon can no longer afford for half of the largest corporations doing business here to pay the $10 minimum income tax. Profitable corporations and Oregonians making over $250,000 should carry their share of the responsibility through these tough times.

I am calling on you to protect Oregon's kids and schools by enacting reasonable increases to taxes on profitable corporations and the wealthiest Oregonians and reducing tax loopholes.

Get on Stand for Children's e-alert list so you can do this again (sad, sad reality).

Comments

[Leaving2]

"I am calling on you to protect Oregon's kids and schools by enacting reasonable increases to taxes on profitable corporations and the wealthiest Oregonians and reducing tax loopholes" !! BUSINESSES ARE LEAVING OREOGN IN DROVES BECAUSE OF SUCH THINKING!!!...AND MORE TALKING ABOUT IT AS WELL...PEOPLE LEAVING [TAX BASE SHRINKING] NO MORE "RICH" FOLKS IN OREGON..THey are the smart ones and have LEFT!! GET THE BIG GOV'T OFF THE SMALL BUSINESSMAN'S BACK!! NO MORE TAXES!!

HELLO.....Measure 66 and 67 passed...and NOT ONE DIME MADE IT INTO OUR SCHOOLS!! NONE TO OUR POLICE/FIREMEN/ETC!~
TONS OF NEW TAX..YET NOT ONE CHILD BENEFITED FROM THEM...BUT PERS DID..as it is GUARANTEED @ 8% YEARLY...DID YOU get THAT kid of RAISE LAST YEAR?? Do you EVEN have a job to pay for food or housing??
PERS cannot be sustained..and WILL COLLAPSE w/in the next 2-3 yrs EXERTS /GOV'T OFFICIALS....THEN WHAT?? WE WILL BE ANOTHER CALIFORNIA...OREGON-is ALREADYGONE!

[LFrack]

Kathleen, The Stand for Children email is to ask legislators to raise certain taxes to increase revenue. A previous ask was to use the rainy day fund. Sorry if by including this video with the email it looks like they're asking for rainy day funds again. It's sure hard to decide when exactly is the ideal time to use the fund. Now seems pretty rainy, in my opinion. And if the legislature actually fixes some of our state revenue issues (crossing my fingers), perhaps we won't see such a rainy day again anytime soon. Just my 2 cents.

[Kathleen Mcdade]

I don't remember the numbers -- but I attended a meeting with my legislators where they said that the rainy day fund is not nearly enough. It hasn't had time to build up. So they're going to have to do a lot more with the budget than just tap into the rainy day fund. Also, if that fund gets completely used up now, there's nothing for rainy days to come.