Budget
continued from page 1
“I believe this budget strategy is
prudent and will be well support
ed by Oregonians,” Kitzhaber said.
“It allows us, even in the face of a
revenue decline, to maintain serv
ices such as nursing home care
and highway patrol.”
The proposal has received some
criticism because Kitzhaber’s in
creased spending may decrease the
chance Oregonians will receive
kicker rebate checks in the mail.
OUS officials and University ad
ministrators were attending a State
Board of Education meeting in
Portland when the budget was re
leased and were not available for
direct comment. In statements re
leased later, however, they ex
pressed their gratitude for
Kitzhaber’s new funding plan.
“The governor shares our vision
for access for Oregonians,” Univer
sity President Dave Frohnmayer
said. “I hope this commitment to
restoring our budget is just a begin
ning.”
OUS Chancpllor Joe Cox said he
was encouraged by the bipartisan
support for higher education.
But Rep. Betsy Close, R-Albany,
who serves on the Ways and
Means Subcommittee on Educa
tion, said while she was pleased to
see the governor restoring some of
his previous cuts, she believed he
could have directed more money
toward opportunity grants.
She also said she doubted
whether placing the kicker in
question is a good idea at this stage
in the budget process.
“The concern is once you open
that door, it’s a raid on kicker mon
ey,” she said.
The kicker is an income tax sur
plus refund that may be issued by
the state department of revenue.
A fellow member on the educa
tion subcommittee, Rep. Kurt
Turn to Budget, page 14
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