The state budget for Oregon schools would get a $100 million boost from reserve funds under one of two bills filed Thursday by a pair of House Democrats.SALEM — The budget for Oregon schools remains far from settled.
Two Democratic House members filed bills that would pull money from state reserve funds to boost spending beyond the $5.7 billion that won legislative approval this week.
“Economic times like these are why we have reserve funds,” said Rep. Val Hoyle, of Eugene. “I’m fighting to access every dollar we can for our kids.”
Hoyle and Rep. Margaret Doherty, of Tigard, are looking to withdraw a total of $175 million from two reserve funds — $100 million for schools from the Education Stability Fund and $75 million for health care and public safety from the Rainy Day Fund.
According to calculations by House Democrats, the state is expected to build up a total of $444 million in those two funds by the end of the 2011-13 budget cycle.
The House Democratic caucus has been the most vocal in declaring that K-12 schools need at least $100 million more than what has been approved so far. Other lawmakers, including Senate Democrats, have said that $5.7 billion is the best the state can do given economic conditions and needs of other agencies.
It’s not clear when — or how — action will be taken on the two bills. However, Republican Greg Smith, of Heppner, signed onto the bill that would give schools additional money. That’s a signal that the evenly divided House would have enough votes to assure at least a floor vote on the issue.
Harry Esteve Twitter: @hjesteve
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