Community colleges
Chance of big cuts from state level on rise
By J. Dana Haynes
Of The Print
After nearly a month of in
fighting, the special session of
Oregon’s congress is no nearer
balancing the state budget than
ever. And according to Karen
Prouty, Community Colleges
of Oregon Student Associa
tions and Commissions lob
byist, the fate of the 13 colleges
is now worse than ever.
Last week, the legislation
voted down a proposed in
come tax surcharge by a
margin of 26-34; a move that
almost assures a decisive cut to
the colleges, according to Pro
uty.
\ “I think there will definitely
be cuts, anywhere from 10 to
15 percent,” she said. '
In early January, Gover
nor Vic AtiyehJs proposal to
slash community colleges by 11
percent prompted a rally on the
steps of the capital building that
drew more than 1,000 students
from all oyer the state.
.“Clackamas Community
could withstand major cuts, but
we’re one of only three schools
that could/’ Prouty said.
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Of the 13 schools,
Clackamas is rated number two
on7 monetary stability. Clatsop
County - Community, . in
Astoria,,is number one, thahks
to a $1.7 million carry-over
from their 1980-81 budget.
On the other end of the
spectrum is Southwestern
Oregon Community in Coos
Bay, Treasure Valley Com-
munity in Ontario, and
Chemeketa in Salem. These
three schools are in. dire finan-
cial straits, even without any
budget cuts S
Chemeketa’s problems
stem from problems in Marton
County, explained Doug Mox
ley, vice president of that
school’s student government.
“Chemeketa hais a large
campus .and enrollment, but
the county’s récent fiscal crisis
left us with an unexpected debt
of $600,000,” Moxley said. “A
major budget cut on top of that
would hurt us a lot.”
It is estimated by
CCOSAC that Chemeketa
would lose up to 50 full-time
facility positions if the
legislature goes through with
the cuts. ~
The defeat of the tax sur
charge represents a subtle
change in the legislature’s at
titude toward the community
colleges, Prouty suggested
“We’re losing our süppoit
down there,” she said.
The Democratic Party has
been primarily’behind the col
leges and in favor of thé sur-
charge. In last Wednesday’s
session, seven democrats
voted against the surcharge.
. Leading the opposition
against the colleges is Rep -
Vera Katz.
’ “Katz doesn’t , believe in
‘hobby’ dr self-improvement
classes,” Protity said, “She
.wants the community colleges-
.to teach the basics.”
Katz is co-chairperson of
the House Ways and Means
Committee, and is considered Burrows and Darlene Hooley,
to be a highly influential person who is the" representative for
in Salem. “She’s npt so influen this College’s district. With the
tial ; she’s just loud, ” Prouty exception of..Burrows, the
above mentioned are all
said.
However, the colleges still Democrats.
have considerable support in
The special session was
the government. Those who called to eradicate Oregon’s
have spoken out in favor of > deficit. According to the state
leaving the colleges’ budgets constitution, it is illegal to main
untouched include represen tain deficit spending. How long
tatives. Barbara Roberts, Fred it will take to pare down the
Heard, Joyce Cohen, Mary .budget is unknown.
Financial Aid plans
workshop on forms
for next Tuesday
A workshop for comple
tion of Financial Aid forms will
be held Feb. 16 at 9 a.m. and
Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. Both sessions
will be held in CC 101.
Kathy Scheer, / financial
aid specialist, will explain how
to properly fill out financial aid
applications. The workshop is
open to all interested students
filing for assistance.
El Donna Pruit said,
“Financial aid applications are
not as easy as one might ex
pect.”
She said, “The workshop
will show applicants how to
avoid makingerros in filling out
the form.
“Errors can add weeks on
to your getting the news about
your eligibility ”
It-is important to get the
financial-aid forms in early this
year. “There is less financial aid
to be allotted than last year,
and it is first come first served in
financial aid,” Pruit said.
Staff Photo by Duffy Coffman
BREAKING SOIL, Bob Coon prepares the sidewalk between the Tri Met bus stop
shelter and the Community Center exit.
English instructor
gets published;
going for more
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¡N: OL0055
Winter production
written by former
College student
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