Jackson County Democrats

 Our budget combines strategic cuts in all areas, along with prudent use of reserve funds and targeted revenue increases to address a gap of approximately $4.2 billion for the remainder of 2007-09 and the full 2009- 11 cycle.

For over five months now, we have reviewed all agency budgets and pulled back spending in every area of state government. Like most every Oregon family, we are tightening belts and making do with less. The proposed cuts make up almost half of the budget gap, with reserves filling just over one quarter and the revenue increases making up just less than one quarter.

We are focusing on jobs and the economy first and foremost, and we are carrying through on our commitment to make sure we do not balance our budget on the backs of our kids, our seniors and our disabled. We have sought to leverage federal funding wherever possible, and we have kept in mind both the need to address the short term crisis and to keep our eyes on the long term needs of our state.

Every attempt has been made to mitigate the impact of the cuts on our most vulnerable. We have maintained funding for front line programs in mental health and addiction services, improved staffing levels at long term care facilities, and continue to work on proposals to support in-home care.

In education, we have stretched to reach a level of funding for K-12 that while still not satisfactory, is above what recent estimates have been given the size of the budget gap. We are budgeting $6 billion for K- 12, approximately 45% of our budget, with $5.6 million set out up front and a reserve fund of $400 million to be released during 2010-11.

We are very grateful for the dedication of our teachers, administrators and staff members in our schools. Their sacrifices and personal contributions to the education of their students are clear and greatly appreciated. It is important to acknowledge their efforts to hold our schools together during this economic crisis, and again, Senator Carter and I both want to make our appreciation clear.

I remain very concerned about the funding levels for community colleges and our university system, and will continue to work to improve those budget lines any way possible before the final approval of the budget this year. I am also committed to working to eliminate the 10% cut to Head Start and the early intervention and early childhood education programs if at all possible.

In public safety, we have been able to make targeted cuts in a manner that continues to keep the safety of Oregonians as the priority, offers support to community corrections programs, but does have a problematic impact on the Oregon Youth Authority. It is our hope that the work currently underway by our legislative work group will result in savings in the Department of Corrections which can be used to mitigate cuts to the OYA. It is vital to address the needs of kids coming into the corrections system if we are to have the best chance to change their direction in life.

We are also working in partnership with the Chief Justice to adjust fees and programs to ensure access to the courts for all Oregonians, to make sure our courts are open five days a week, and to continue the very successful work of our drug and family court programs.

In addition, we continue to work with our colleagues on changes to our economic development programs that can best serve to help build our next economic upturn.

This has been and continues to be a very challenging process for our state and our legislature. With the release of the Co-Chair's budget today, we now have a working document to address these challenges, hold our state together, and move forward again.

Here is the link to the budget information:

Co-chairs Recommended Budget

Thanks & Onward,

Rep. Peter Buckley

To Contact Peter Buckley

http://www.leg.state.or.us/buckley