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THE CLACKAMAS PRINT
ELECTION
Tax relief in disguise
School funding put in jeopardy
Ballot Measure 5 will drastically affect since schools, ESDs and community col
leges must share the $5 tax rate, if one of
the school systems in Oregon.
It is essential to our education on the these units secures a new levy, it will nega
community college level that Measure 5 be tively affect the finances of other taxing
districts. According to the letter, whether
defeated.
Measure 5 is the property tax relief Measure 5 passes or not, our current fund
plan. Basically, what it is set up to do is cut ing from property taxes, 50 percent of the
property taxes for school districts, educa school’s budget, expires June 30,1993, and
voters cannot vote
tional service
to exceed that
districts and
limit no matter
community col
Ballot Measure 5
how severely local
leges to $15 per
services may be
$1000 market
cut
value in 1991-
Keyser’s last
92 with further
cuts to $5 per $1000 market value by 1995- concernis that if the majority ofthe college
96. The state is required to make up the lost revenues begin coming from the state dr
from other than the local district, local
revenue up to 1996 only.
The legislature will be required to cover control may be replaced by state control.
If this measure were to pass today, the
the cost of lost revenue, but Measure 5
doesn’t provide any alternative source of college would lose $1.3666 million dollars
making up the lost revenue, so it will come in the first year alone, according to an
estimated survey of the effect of Measure 5
from the general fund.
Making up this difference will mean conducted by Chastain Economic Consult-
that, by 1996, 70 percent of the general
fundmoneywillgo to the school systems to It is essential to our
payback lost revenue. There will only be 30 education on the
percent of the state’s general fund left for
prisons, higher education, senior services community college level
and welfare. That will mean drastic cuts in that Measure 5 be
those and many more programs funded by
defeated._____________ __
the state.
The effects at the community college ing. .
Measure 5 will negatively affect many
level do not concern just The Clackamas
Print staff, but the college administration services in the state of Oregon. This so
as well. In a letter to all college staff mem called tax relief plan will cost the state
bers, College President John Keyser ex more in the long run. If we don’t pay in
pressed that he has three main concerns money for the loss in revenue, we will pay
for the cut in the programs we depend on to
with Measure 5.
Keyser’s first concern is that Measure serve and protect us.
As students we have a chance to secure
5 requires the state to make up the lost
property tax revenue as it continues to the a part of our education system by voting no
current level of binding, but it doesn’t require on Ballot Measure 5. Until a reasonable
the state to continue the current level of solution to the school funding system is
state support, and without an additional found, we cannot take the chance of Meas
revenue source the state will not have the ure 5 making our school system a bigger
mess than it already is.
funds to do both.
Another concern Keyser has is that
October 31,1990
Measure 11 bad for schools
This translates into educational ex
Let’s just say that five years down the
road anyone cango to whatever school they penses of those who educate their children
wish, at the taxpayers’ expense. What prob at home or send children to private schools
lems would this cause? More than you can that will be syphoned from your local school
imagine, as a result of Ballot Measure 11. district budget. Is this necessaiy, or wanted?
Private schools will also be allowed tc
Why is this ballot measure such a prob
lem? Just think of the college situation, use the funds that they are allocated in anj
and the recruiting that goes on at that level, way that the school sees fit. So private in
stitutions art
and how univer
given money,
sities lure stu
but without the
dents to their
same accounta
respective lairs.
Ballot Measure 11
bility as publit
Could anyone
schools. Thi
picture the may
should not bi
hem caused by,
allowed. - Pe
let’s say, Lak
eridge High School who wants to build a riod.
Measure 11 will also increase the cos
strong athletic image. Lakeridge would
probably do anything to get a star football of educating students. Schools should no
quarterback who would be in Milwaukie be run like a business, unless you are in th<
business of creating productive member
High’s district
The students themselves would want of society, and not making a “profit” off o
to go to the top schools academic wise, and
for sports as well. Many school districts Schools should not be
would lose funding and shut down, since
run like a business,
students decided to go elsewhere.
Then there is another related prob unless you are in the
lem. In principle, those who devised this
business of ...
measure may hope that each school will be
makings 'profit1 off of
balanced, with a certain number of “out of
district” students etc. Good luck. Over a young child.__________
crowding will become a major problem for
many popular schools. How are they going a young child.
Those in favor believe that it will givi
to decide which students will be admitted?
Not only will Ballot Measure 11 create poor children a chance at a better educa
these problems, but it would also provide tion in a better district. If this measure goe
funding from private institutions that al through, that poor child still might not b
ready get money from students attending. able to get into the school because of th
According to the League Of Women competition.
Does this poorly written measure an
Voters Of Oregon, “Local School property
taxes pay roughly 70% of the costs of edu its subsequent atrocities deserve to b
cating ... [Measure 11] will take local school passed? No. Stop the education systei
property tax money away from your local from disintegrating before our collect»
eyes. Vote no on measure 11.
school district”
Preserve freedom of choice: vote no on 8
Don't return women to back alleys
Measure 8 on the Nov. 6 ballot would, come to mind when abortion is mentioned.
The legalization of abortion has meant
if it passes, amend the Oregon Constitution
to prohibit abortion except to prevent the a major advance in medical care for our
death of a pregnant woman, or in cases of sisters, our daughters, our loved ones and
reported rape or incest. As a staff, we rec ourselves.
We do not need to return to a time
ommend a “no” vote.
We do not wish to argue the religious when women will die in back alleys because
or moral viewpoints of this issue, nor do we of illegal abortions.
Abortion must remain legal for women
want to debate when life begins. We only
who decide that
wish to address
option is their
our belief in a
most responsible
woman’s right
Ballot Measure 8
choice.
to choose.
As the Ore
It should
gonian quoted in
be relatively
the Forum sec
clear that no
one is “anti-life” or “pro-abortion.” We tion on Oct. 25, philosopher Eric Hoffer
simply believe that an abortion is a deci once stated, “Freedom... is the right to...
sion that should be made between a woman choices others disapprove of.”
Although the Print staff does not ad
and her doctor. Neither the state nor any
other faction should interfere with a woman’s vocate abortion, we do believe that it is a
right to choose what happens within her
Abortion must remain
own life.
In a perfect world, women would not legal for women who
seek abortions. Every child would be con
ceived in a state of love. Every child would decide that option is
be wanted by someone. Children would not their most responsible
be bom drug dependant, deformed or dis
choice.
________
eased. Unfortunately, we are not part of a
personal choice that should not be limited
perfect world.
Since abortion was legalized in Ore because someone else does not approve.
This proposed ban on abortion would
gon in 1969, our hospital wards have not
been filled with women suffering from the be a grea^step back and a disservice to all
effects of a self-induced orback alley abor woro/’S. ■
Save freedom of choice: votp “NO” on
tion. Hemorrhaging, infection, infertility
and death are no longer the thoughts that measure 8.
State Measures
No. 1 Question: Shall state constitution give metropolitan service district voters the
right of self-governance, over metropolitan matters, through district charter? (Vote
yes or no)
No. 2 Question: Shall constitution allow school district created by merger a tax base
equal to sum of tax bases of merged districts? (Vote yes or no)
No. 3 Question: Shall tax exemption for PERS pensions be repealed, and amount
equaling taxes plus 11 percent interest returned to PERS retirees? (Vote yes or no)
No. 4 Question: Shall nuclear power plant (Trojan) be allowed to operate only if state
regulatory agency finds that certain conditions are met? (Vote yes or no)
No. 5 Question: Shall constitution set limits on property taxes, and dedicate them to
fund public schools and non-school government operations? (Vote yes or no)
No. 6 Question: By 1993, shall packaging used in Oregon meet certain recycling goals,
unless a hardship waiver is obtained? (Vote yes or no)
No. 7 Question: Shall Oregon law establish program of work by public assistance
recipients for government-funded wages in.lieu of welfare benefits? (Vote yes or no
No. 8 Question: Shall state constitution prohibit abortions except to prevent death ol
pregnant woman and in reported cases of rape or incest? (Vote yes or no)
No.9Question: Shall law, effective December 7,1990, require safety belt useby motoi
vehicle drivers and passengers over 16? (Vote yes or no)
No. 10 Question: Shall state law require doctor to give notice to parent or custodian
at least two days before minor’s abortion? (Vote yes or no)
No. 11 Question: Should Constitution provide choice of public schools, tax credit fo
education outside public schools, voter approval of certain education laws? (Vote ye!
or no)
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