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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 1996)
The Clackamas Print Wednesday, October 16,1996 -------------------------------------- --------------------------------- 2 EDITORIAL Laney Fouse Editor-in-Chief Have you seen the latest Vot ers’ Pamphlet? It’s that blue and white, official-looking booklet la beled “Volume 1 of 2” and titled Measures. The Secretary of State’s of fice had to produce two pam phlets due to the large number of measures in this year’s General Election. The second volume should be in the mail sometime this week. It will include a list of the candidates and their state ments (can’t wait). Also included will be political party statements (yahoo), polling places, voting in structions and other miscella neous voting aids. Voting aids? All right! Maybe they’re provid ing a cart in order for voters to tote those two pamphlets to the voting booth. Okay, here’s a little history lesson. Did you know Oregon was one of first states (since 1903) to provide for the printing, and distribution of this kind of publication? That’s okay, neither did I. So the big question here is just how many of you have read through the pamphlet? Raise your hands. That’s what I thought. I know there are plenty of more interesting things to do with your time - like reading your economics or psychology books. Let me tell you this. Some of these measures are going to have a profound impact on your life, especially Measure 47. Perhaps not today. Please trust me when I say that one today has an un canny way of becoming tomor row. And a whole bunch of tomorrows add up to your future. Just what does this mean to you as a community college stu dent? Perhaps to a few the cuts won’t mean much. However, to most students, it could make a dif ference in getting a much sought after degree. If you’re a traditional college student (traditional being defined as just out of high school, still living at home), paying less prop erty tax might come as a relief to your parents. But just wait until they get their first look at the col lege schedule with the higher tu ition payments. Zap! That’s it. Go get a job kid. You’ll be lucky to get a one flipping burgers at the local fast food chain. You’ll be in competition with all those high school students you thumbed your nose at during graduation. As an average student, no one’s offered you a big Ducks scholarship. Of course, there’s always those government loans. You know the ones. They don’t seem like much when you’re go ing to school But, boy, do they add up fast. Just wait until you get their bill shortly after gradua tion. Now you’re thinking, “Gee, maybe I should have went out for school sports like my best friend. Their tuition is waived because they’re on the college team.” But wait, your high school didn’t have school sports. Remember your parents voted for Measure 5. School sports and extracurricular activities were the first to go. But don’t blame your folks. They were just trying to keep their heads above water like most work ing-class Americans. For students who are nontra- ditional (nontraditional meaning not just out of high school, mar ried or single, with or without chil dren), Measure 47’s impact is a “Catch 22.” If the student is a property owner, the lowered tax rate may seem like a gift. But if that same student is going to col lege full-time, unemployed or working part-time, the savings seen in their property tax bill will eventually show up as additional costs of getting a college degree. Where else did you think the money’s going to come from ex cept your wallet? It doesn’t re ally matter whose pocket because eventually society as a whole will pay—either in higher tuition costs or in the cost of building more pris ons. In the eight years I’ve been an Oregon resident, I have seen a tremendous growth in new jobs. Most of these new jobs require a college education. Most of these jobs pay well, especially in the high tech industry. If Oregonians don’t have the required education then who’s going to get the best jobs? Most likely someone from out-of-state. Educated workers are this state’s most valuable resource. Besides, how many people do you know who prefer to work for minimum wage? Voting is the strongest voice we have in governing our lives. Yes, despite what you may think or have heard, your one little vote does count. Don’t let someone else make the decision for you. And if you don’t vote, you don’t get to whine. Get out and “Rock the Vote!” Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Clackamas Print Staff Editor-in-Chief: Laney Fouse (Ext. 2576) Managing Editor: Brad Zimmerman (Ext. 2576) Feature Editor: Karin Redston (Ext. 2578) A&E Editor: Jon Roberts (Ext. 2309) Sports Editor: Brendon Neal (Ext. 2578) Copy Editor: Cindy Hines Kurfman (Ext. 2309) Photo Editor: Joel Coreson (Ext. 2578) Business Manager: Erin Bennett (Ext, 2578) Staff Writers: Andrew Beck, Dan Clark, Tracy Clay, Kim Harney, Shauna McGehee, Mairin Moore, Christina Mueller, Joel Shempert, John Thorburn ♦ ♦♦ Secretary: JoAnne Gale (Ext. 2309) Advisor : Linda Vogt (Ext. 2310) The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily reflect those of the student body, college administration, its faculty- or The Clackamas Print's advertisers. Products and services advertised in The Clackamas Print are not necessarily endorsed by anyone associated with The Clackamas Print. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication distributed every Wednesday except for finals week. The advertising rate is $4.50 per column inch. All signed letters to the editor will be considered for publication and must be submitted by 1 p.m. the Friday prior to publication. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon, 97045; Barlow 104; (503) 657-6958, ext. 2309. E-mail: cccprint@clackamas.cc.or.us Editorial/Opinion « Measure 47: Oh, sure, it mightslook goSd on paper Ray Overfield . sure 5 and remember: since pas- Staff Writer ^*^ge of 5 tuition has increased 80 “Everybody says it’s wrong percent. Passage of 47 threatens and everybod^can’t be wrong.” td^jroduce tuition increases, John Lee Hooker . c||ss/section closings, packed Unless you have been in the classes, fewer instructors, reduced dreamy grip of opium or have been services and increased competi locked in the black recesses of a tion for financial aid. coma, the hullabaloo that swirls Don’t feel this is a selfish is about you has caught your atten sue that just hurts you. Every tion. grade from K-12 relies on property Measure 47—and make no mis tax money. take about it — if passed, will have Students are not the only startling effects on voice to decry Measure every student who 47. Knowledgeable plans to attend or people answerable for who currently at the well-being of tends Clackamas. Oregon’s public school Measure 47 has system are openly con the usual Ballot demning this measure. Measure boilerplate Governor John but, behind all the wording, 47 aims Kitzhaber, Superintendent Jack to do one thing: roll back property Bierwirth, Portland School Board taxes and cap their grpwth. These Chairwoman Donna Jordan, Chan property taxes are a healthy source cellor Joe Cox, Clackamas Presi of funding for the college. The dent John Keyser, and the Clackamas Board of Directors es Legislature’s revenue specialist all timates the 97-98 fiscal impact on publicly oppose this measure as the college to be a loss of hurtful and ill-conceived. $2,313,947, or 29 percent reduction Measure 47 should be called" in revenues. Statewide, commu the Casey Jones Measure: trouble nity colleges stand to lose ahead, trouble behind. The trouble $24,393,585. behind was Measure 5 derailing What does this mean to the school funding. You don’t need Clackamas student? It means to be a trackwalker to see Mea Measure 47 will worsen the bur sure 47 is big trouble ahead. VOTE densome effects started by Mea- NO ON BALLOT MEASURE 47. NEWS BRIEFS Phi Theta Kappa plans fall schedule Phi Theta Kappa will spon sor Debate Watch tonight in the Gregory Forum. The debate be tween Bill Clinton and Bob Dole will air at 6 p.m. with an open discussion to follow. Instructor Dean Darris will serve as mod erator. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The Phi Theta Kappa honor society will be holding two new member orientation informa tional meetings this month. The meetings are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m in the Skylight Dining Room and Monday, Oct 28 from 12 to 1 p.m. (Location for the Oct. 28 meeting is still being decided). PTK will be holding its first annual fall garage sale on Fri day, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 9. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Community Cen ter. Donations are being ac cepted. Contact Dave Arter at ext. 2210 for more information. Zoo Boo looking for volunteers The Washington Park Zoo’s annual “Zoo Boo” Halloween festivities will be from Oct. 18 to Oct. 31. The theme this year centers around Hollywood stu dios and “B Movie” classics. The zoo is looking for more vol unteer participation. Anyone who can volunteer from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or 5 to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday is urged to contact the zoo and sign up. People are needed to help with the “Haunted Hive”, game booths and security. A sign up sheet is located in the ASG of fice in the Community Center. Or, you can call 226-1561, ext. 654for more information. University representative to visit campus A representative from the University of Montana will be on campus Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Community Center Mall. If you have questions about transferring to the University pf Montana or any of the programs offered stop by and see Janet Stugelmeyer or contact the Coun seling Center at Ext. 2268. Cuts and caps continued from page 1 losses will increase to $553 mil lion in 1999 with projected in creases each year afterwards. < The overall estimate of the financial impactas based on a few assumptions. Assessed property values will continue to increase. Voters will not approve tax levies. The 1997-98 tax roll will include new construction. And if not approved by voters, existing bond levies will be ex empt from Measure 47. Although the measure cuts and limits the total tax on a prop erty, it doesn’t specify how the cuts will be apportioned to each tax district. In the example given by the Legislative Revenue Office, a property valued at $100,000 is assessed $ 1300 in tax for 1995- 96. If that same property grows by 15 percent to $ 115,000 this would increase school taxes by 15 percent under the current law. The school rate is fixed under Measure 5. Because levies grow slower than values, nonschool taxes grow slower also. New properties help pay some of this tax. The net effect is an increase in the total tax of $ 158 over the two- year period. Under the limits for Measure 47, the 1997-98 tax would be ten percent less than 1995-96. This means the property would be taxed $ 130 less than the 1995-96 tax and $288less in 1997-98. According to a report from the Legislative Revenue Office, “Property tax is mostly used for education and public safety and is the mail local source of educa tion and public safety.” The re port further states it is difficult to cut property taxes and pri ori- tize education and public safety without state help. “The passage of ballot Mea sure 47 will severely impact the students of Clackamas. Its im pact on students’ ability to re ceive a decent education will be vast,” said ASG President Mike Caudle. Make a difference! The Classified and Faculty Associa tion need help getting information out on the impact of Measure 47one evening this month and/or walk on Saturday, Oct. 19 or 26 to drop vot ing literature at district resident homes. Please call ext. 2311 or2490 for more information and to sign up. LPNs: Earn a bonus, benefits for part-time work Join the Army Reserve as a qualified LPN and earn over $8,000 annually in pay and education benefits — all for part-time work. Even better, you’ll receive a $5,000 bonus and an accelerated promotion. Think about it Then think about us. Then call: 1-800-235-ARMY ext 321 BE ALL YOU CAN BE? ARJMRT RESERVE
