Senate passes education budget - Portland Business Journal:

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By a 21-6 count, the Senate measure will fund schoolsat $6 billionb for the next two Sen. Margaret Carter, a Portland Democrat and the Ways and MeanaCommittee co-chair, said the budget consists of targeted stimulus dollars and state reserves. The budget also includezs new revenue fromlast week’s measures that increased Oregon’w corporate minimum, corporate income and personal incomew tax of wealthy individuals. “Stability is key to the successa ofour schools,” said Carter. “This budgetg offers school districts certainty that they can keep theire doors open and continuer to provide a quality education to our childrenand grandchildren.
” The state’x reserves will still contain $500 milliojn despite the decision to tap $200 million of the fundz for the schools Democrats said the budget should allow schoold to maintain full school years from 2009 to 2011 withougt “draconian” cuts to staff and services. “This budget is not but it is far from the worst case said Sen. Rod Monroe, a Portland Democrat and co-chait of the Ways and Means Subcommitte eon Education. “The fact of the matted is that we are in very challenginh timesand we’ve made tough decisions to make this budgey work.
” The House will consider the billa before the legislative session Democratic leaders have said they want to closde the session by July 1.