Office of the Senate President

900 Court St., N.E., Room S-201

Salem OR 97301

News Release

Contact: Robin Maxey April 6, 2011

(503) 986-1605

robin.maxey@state.or.us

Sub-Committee Approval Begins Process

Of Early Passage of K-12 Schools Budget

Statement by Senate President Peter Courtney

“With annual sessions, passing the State School Fund budget early makes sense. We know we are going to be back in February. We know we will be able to make adjustments.

“Last week the co-chairs laid out a budget outline which includes actions the Legislature should take when we return in 2012. We are already making plans for next year. We should give local school boards the information they need now to do the very same thing.”

Statement by Joint Ways and Means Co-Chair Richard Devlin

"All across Oregon, school boards are making difficult budget decisions about the next school year and the services they can provide to our kids. Funding education first will give these local school boards the information they need to make those choices now.

"Given the volatility of our economic forecasts since this recession began, it's imperative to give certainty to our schools. We hope that things are improving for Oregonians and that we can increase budgets in 2012, but the reality is that these are still very difficult times. I am confident that this is the right thing to do at this point in time for our kids and their education."

Note to editors: The Joint Ways and Means Sub-Committee on Education late Wednesday afternoon approved the appropriation of $5.7 billion to the State School Fund for the 2011-13 biennium. The State School Fund pays for K-12 education in Oregon. Passage of Senate Bill 5552 and Senate Bill 5553 by the full Ways and Means Committee on Friday will send the K-12 budget to the full Senate for a vote next week.