Monologue
Measure 2 jeopardizes
College, services funding
By D. Dietrich
Arts Editor
•This editorial was going to be
directed toward some aspect of the
presidential campaign but I discovered
an issue which will become a major
source of tension on this campus very
shortly. I’m speaking of the impending
Ballot Measure No. 2 which features
1.5 percent property tax limitation
measure.
I’m afraid that voters will approve
Measure No. 2 out of a blind panic
caused by increasingly straining pro­
perty taxes. The basic idea of the
measure is, of course, a positive one.
We would all like to see property taxes
go down.
Unfortunately, this measure would
create more negative repercussions
than it’s worth. If passed, the measure
would cripple school libraries, social
services and law enforcement among
other public services.
The measure would roll back real
property taxes to 1.5 percent of the
assessed value or to the tax rate effec­
tive on July 1, 1983, whichever is
lower. The assessed value of the pro­
perty would only be allowed to increase
up to 2 percent a year. Voters may
overrule the measure twice a year in
May and November.
On the surface it sounds like a good
plan, but when you stop to forecast the
reductions and where they would take
place, the picture becomes bleak.
Proponehts of Measure No. 2 say it
is absurd to try and forecast the
specific effects before becoming com­
mitted to this drastic move.
According to Oregon Legislative
Revenue Office projections and the
State Department of Education,
Clackamas Community College would
have had a 33.1 percent loss of proper­
ty tax revenue had Measure No. 2 been
in effect for 1983-84. Because school
districts attain about 70 percent of
their total funding from property
taxes, this cut would literally cripple all
levels of public education.
On the College campus itself, if
Measure No. 2 passes, it will mean a
cut back of about 30 faculty members,
according to a quote in The Oregonian
by William J. Ryan, college business
manager. The consequence is that 540
full-time students could be turned
away.
Not only would community colleges
be directly affected, but those of you
planning on transfering to a major
university in the next couple of years.
You might find tuition higher and
classes limited because the Oregon
Legislature may have no other choice
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lAln-iii
but to dip into their general fund for
the University of Oregon and Oregon
State, in order to rescue the public
school system.
Along with cutbacks in the educa­
tional system, we can expect accompa­
nying problems. Widespread layoffs in
other state institutions or offices will
add- to the problem. In fact such
layoffs would jeopardize Oregon’s
finally stabilized unemployment situa­
tion. Furthermore, Portland already
maintains a high crime rate and
Measure No. 2 also means cuts in law
enforcement. This certainly could
worsen that crime rate.
Supporters of Measure No. 2 still in­
sist such speculation is exactly that,
speculation. They say the ability to
override the limitation every May and
November will take care of the ‘true’
needs of the taxpayers while allowing
them to exercise more control over
traction.
In- fact, the voters would have so
much control that such vital matters as
minor street improvements would have
to be voted on by the whole tax district.
And in order for the voting to bp valid
more than 50 percent of the eligible
voters must go to the polls. These
numbers have not always been reached
in previous elections.
Ballot Measure 2
was born of a
need to reduce property taxes, but,the
effects of its passage are simply to ex­
treme to benefit anyone. Hopefully,
those inclined to vote for Measure No.
2 will think of the long-range effects
before the November elections.
More Hatfield/Hendriksen debates would help voters
By Shelley Ball
Editor in Chief
But not all has been well in
the world of politics for Hat­
field, as the recent investiga­
tion into his relationship with
Greek financier Basil Tsakos
would prove. The senator’s
long-held image of being a
clean politician was in danger
of becoming muddied, but it
appears Hatfield is off the
hook, at least for now.
through the woods of the
Senate Ethics Committee just
yet. She has also been criticiz­
ing the senator’s actions con­
cerning social programs. She
states in her press releases that
Hatfield has supported ad­
ministration cutbacks in men­
tal health, child nutrition,
public health and senior pro­
grams.
It seemed to take forever,
but last Sunday Republican
Sen. Mark Hatfield and
Democratic Senate challenger
Margie Hendriksen finally had
their first debate on the televi­
sion program “Viewpoint.”
The debate, however,
wasn’t publicized much, so it
Hendriksen has been quoted
Following the announce­
is doubtful that many people ment by Sen. Ted Stevens, as saying Hatfield has “a zero
saw the telecast. Hatfield and R-Alaska, chairman of the percent voting record on ques­
Hendriksen should have more Senate Ethics Committee, that tions of concern to Oregon
debates, yet there seems to be committee lawyers did not farmers,” and she has de­
no plan for that at this time.
find any evidence sufficient nounced a newspaper ad that
After spending more than 30 enough to bring about a full has pictured Hatfield in a Boy
years in this field, it can be investigation of Hatfield’s Scout uniform as being “ill*
said Hatfield and Oregon relationship with Tsakos, a timed to coincide with the elec­
politics go well together. His relieved Hatfield most likely tion.”
But of all the issues Hen­
political background boasts a wanted to forget the whole
driksen
has chosen to criticize
two-term governorship and a thing had ever happened.
Hatfield on, the one she spent
three-term, 18-year-long
career as a U.S. senator for the
Hendriksen, however, is a lot of time voicing was the
fact Hatfield wouldn’t agree
state, among other things. making it difficult for Hatfield
to a debate with her until last
And Nov. 6, Hatfield will be to forget the investigation. She
Sunday.
on the ballot to attempt to ex­ has been doing her utmost to
tend his senatorial position to win support by reminding One has to wonder why this
voters Hatfield may not be was an issue at all. Hen-
a fourth consecutive term.
Page 2
driksen, a dark-horse can­
didate for U.S. senator, could
definitely use more debates to
help her gain more support.
However, she. has gone up
against a political figure who
has been in Oregon politics so
long he has been labeled by
critics as a political institution
for thestate.
The loyal supporters of Hat­
field are not likely to change
their vote for him in
November, simply because he
has all those years in Oregon
politics on his side. Hen­
driksen’s political career hard­
ly measures up to Hatfield’s in
experience (she became state
senator in 1983). So why is it
no future debates have been
scheduled?
More debates between the
two candidates would benefit
each of them. Hendriksen
would get more exposure and
Hatfield would have various
opportunities to defend his
record and thereby put to rest
Hendriksen’s claim that he is
merely hiding behind it for
political support.
The way it stands now, most
voters will not get a good
chance to find out more about
Margie Hendriksen. And
that’s too bad, because she
could have been to some
voters a better choice for
senator than Hatfield has
been.
A
THE PRINT, a member of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association, aims to be a fair and impartial journalistic
medium covering the campus community as thoroughly as
possible. Opinions expressed in THE PRINT do not
necessarily reflect those of the College administration, facul­
ty, Associated Student Government or other members of
THE PRINT. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S.
Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon 97045.
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