Time running out for Roberts’ budget plans
SALFM (A!’) — A legislative
panel Is trying to get a jump on
stuto budget problems, but
don’t look for many hard num
bers until after the Nov 3 elec
tion.
So far, the committee has
come up with a numberless
fnimnwork
■'We've kept this very non
partisan," said Senate President
John Kilzhabor. D-Rosoburg
"Wo did nol want to involve
the process in legislative elec
tion-yoar politics, and we kept
thu schedule in line with that."
Klt/.haber is co-chairman of
the Joint Committee on Ore
gon's Future, a panel that in
cludes most legislative leaders
The committee was sot up
last your to monitor Gov. Bartui
re Roberts’ unfolding pluns to
reorganize and streamline gov
ernment
It added the roll? of budget re
view after u turbulent special
session lust July, in which hrg
Islutors refused to send the gov
ernor's tax plan to the voters
A subcommittee has been
poring over budget details since
Ihon, trying to determine
what's essential and what can
be cut
it sent a report to the lull
committee last week that pro
poses few major changes. The
document outlines, without
any numbers, what effects cuts
might have
Kllzhabor sai<) the report is a
framework for reduced spend
ing once a few crucial numbers
are known
Tint 19«3 Legislature proba
bly will be handed a nearly $1
billion problem.
That amount is the gap be
tween expected generul fund
revenue and the cost of contin
uing state programs at current
levels. It allows for inflation
and automatic increases in ex
penses, such as new staff or pay
raises
The governor's budget staff
says the gap could be as large
us St.3 billion Some law
makers think that's too high
The full committee moots lat
er this month to try to settle on
a specific number The work
then shifts to deciding what
cuts ran be made to narrow the
That process* would end up
with what Kilzhnber rails a
"core budget" to support state
services that are considered es
sential
The final stop would Iks de
riding how taxes might have to
lie raised to eliminate the re
mainder of the gup.
House Speaker Larry Camp
bell. K-Lugene. the committee's
other co-chairman. said people
shouldn't conclude there won't
be cuts because the subcommit
tee hasn't specified many.
"We were saying what activi
ties of government we want In
continue," Campbell said. "Dul
when we say wo want to con
tinue to havo a Corrections De
partment. that doesn't mean we
can't make changes. The core is
not the whole apple."
Kitzhabor said the process
was meant to shift attitudes
about dealing with the budge!
"The debate has been cast as
to what wo have to cut," he
said "We recast it into what we
have to spend to maintain the
integrity of state government ."
Lawmakers might decide
they have to spend more than
is m sight That usually trans
lates to tax increases, but no
body is talking airout that be
fore the election
Kltzhaber, who's leaving the
Legislature, had proposed a
brief special session late this
year to consider a short-term
tax boost to balance the
1993-95 budget
That would leave the 1993
session free to look for long
range solutions to the drain on
the budget from the Measure 5
property tax limit, he said
Ho found little nnthusiasm
for the idea.
"People prefer a comprehen
sive solution." he said.
Doth he and Campbell said
the idea of a post-election spe
cial session remains up in the
air.
Meanwhile, Roberts by law
has to submit a proposed
1993-95 budget by Dec. 1. That
work goes on aside from what
ever the legislative committee
does.
Scenic tunnel for bikers in danger of destruction
WALLACE, Idaho (A!*) Mountain Ink
ers like to cross the St Patti Tunnel on the
Idaho-Montann bordor. but the subterranean
adventure may be over
Deemed tot) dangerous for human pus
sage, the U S Forest Service Is planning to
seal the abandoned 1 H-mile burrow by
spring The train tunnel starts a scenic tie
scent to Avery. Idaho.
The hikers will try to win the support of
the Idaho Tourism Council by taking some
members into the tunnel
"Riding through hern is an adventure,"
said Drum Cooper as ho splashed through
hub-deep water on l-'rlday. Cooper is mar
keting manager (or Lookout (hiss ski aroa.
Last summer, more people distxiverod the
thrill of the deep tunnel as Lookout Pass's
new managers rented hikes anti passed out
trail maps Next summer, they would like to
provide guided hike tours around the urea.
Cooper said
The crown jewel of the tours would be
through the St Paul Tunnel und down the
gentle grade of the former railroad lino ovor
sovon trestles and through eight more tun
nels to the Wallat e-A very road
"The railroad gave it to (the public) for
the Forest Service to manage Then (tho
Forest Service) put these slabs up without
tolling anyone,'' Cooper said, referring to
conc rete and dirt berms blocking the en
trance to the St Paul Tunnel
Water seeps through the ground and
drains out of cracks in the ceiling and walls,
causing thin stalactites to form.
Group gives
Oregon C
on children
PORTLAND (AP) — The
slato eurned only a C-minus
for its care of children on u
"report card" issued Monday
by an advocacy group.
Children First for Oregon
rated five broad categories to
dotormine how children an;
being treated.
The slate earned a C-minus
for safety from abuse or vio
lent crime, a D for investing
in family health and support,
a C plus for early child care,
a D for teen cure and a C for
education..
"This report card sounds
an alarm that should moti
vate each of us to action,"
said the group’s president,
Carol Mntzler, of Eugene.
"Whether tho issue is child
poverty, child care, child
abuse or teen births, wo are
not valuing our children,”
Metzler said. "Oregon’s eco
nomic, social and political
future depends on the well
being of our children and
families.”
She said t h o u s a n d s o f
copies of tho group’s report
card would be distributed
statewide to urge more atten
tion to child care issues.
Tho report card suid mi
nority children fared worse
overall.
Children First is a state
wide child advocacy organi
zation formed by business
leaders and private citizens.
J
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