Oregon Legislative Assembly Joint Ways and Means Committee Senate President Peter Courtney, Co-Chair Representative Peter Buckley, Co-Chair

News Release

Contact:  Robin Maxey                        Geoff Sugerman               February 18, 2010

            (503) 986-1605                           (503) 986-1210

robin.maxey@state.or.us geoff.sugerman@state.or.us

Ways and Means Co-Chairs Say Budget Plan

Creates Jobs, Protects Important Services

(SALEM) – Financial aid that will make a college education more affordable, daycare assistance which allows low income parents to remain in the workforce and funds to stop damage to fruit crops by an invasive species of fruit fly highlight the budget rebalancing plan unveiled by the Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Committee Thursday.

The plan focuses Oregon’s limited resources on creating jobs and protecting vital state services, the co-chairs said just one day after announcing that their budget plan ensures that Oregon Public Schools will receive the full $6 billion originally budgeted for the 2009-2011 biennium.

“The budget puts our money where it can do the most good. It provides an education for our children; maintains important financial aid to college students; and protects jobs on fruit farms and in the daycare centers that allow low income parents the opportunity to earn a living,” said Senate President Peter Courtney, who also serves as co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. “It also makes an investment in important areas of public safety, including our district attorneys and training for law enforcement officers.”

“As states all over the country are slashing services, kicking people off of health care plans and making huge disinvestments in their future, Oregon has been able to protect core services and move forward on issues critical to the health and safety of Oregon,” said State Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland). “Inch by inch we are climbing out of the hole of this global recession and day by day we are starting to see signs of economic recovery. We have huge challenges in the years ahead, but this balanced budget protects critical services and gives our state a little time to recover.”

The co-chairs budget contains $70 million in budget reductions and savings.

It includes $9.7 million in additional funding to meet the greater than anticipated need for Oregon Opportunity Grants. The grants are money paid directly to students to help off-set the cost of a college education.

An additional $12.8 million is allocated to Employment Related Day Care, which provides assistance so low income parents can return to the workforce. The funds will protect the jobs of more than 1,500 daycare workers who care for 5,500 Oregon children from 2,900 Oregon families. ERDC assistance allows parents in those families to work, while avoiding having to choose between getting a job or staying home to care for their children.

The co-chairs said they were first notified last week of the need for funds to fight an invasive species of fruit fly attacking soft fruit crops in the state. Moving quickly, they included $225,000 to battle the infestation in the budget rebalancing plan.

Additionally, the co-chairs budget includes funding for early Head Start and Oregon Relief Nurseries, as well as funds to restore salaries for District Attorneys which were reduced in 2009 through furloughs and freezes and an increase in funds for law enforcement training.

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