Bill Leach to retire
after six years of
service
Page 3
Volleyball team ties
for 9th at NWAACCs
Page 10
[heClackamasPrint.com for more info & photos
First copy FREE; additional copies 10
)
|as Community College, Oregon City, OR
Wednesday, Dec. 2,2009
Volume 43, Issue 8
Brian Steele Clackamas Print
ts happily create new rhymes using current events to the toon of old nursery rhymes on the spot durring rehersal for their one act plays on Nov. 30
er center. See story on page 5.
.asures 66 and 67 necessary for community college funding
■sure 66
lure 66 will mark a pivotal point in
I’s future. It is important that this
Ire passes because it will raise $472
Ito help maintain state funding levels
■vices such as education, corrections
llthcare. We at Clackamas are directly
led by the success of this bill. Combined
leasure 67, Oregon’s community col-
Itand to either keep or lose $24 million
Is already been promised to them by the
Kgislature.
■failure to pass this bill would mean
KC would be forced to make another
■of budget cuts. The college has already lost a department, 20 full-
laff and faculty members as well as uncounted part-time employees
■the last school year. Another round of cuts would be devastating,
■cuts would ultimately mean fewer classes, meaning not only would
jation be something to dread even more, but it may mean that stu-
lould have to go to school longer because they have to wait for the
■they need.
I extra revenue would be acquired by raising the state income tax
I 1.8 percent for those who make more than $125,000 if filing alone
1, 000 if filing jointly. It will raise income tax levels by 2 percent for
Inals making over $250,000 and joint filers.making over $500,000.
■ice feature of the bill is that it only raises taxes for money earned
Bese levels; this means, if an individual makes $150,000 only the
Inal $25,000 will be hit by the additional tax hikes.
■ is a good way to raise taxes without completely obliterating
In s already suffering working class. Although it does raise taxes on
Vans, it raises taxes for those who can afford it in order to help those
■measure will help many students here at Qackamas that aren’t
K six digit incomes. This ballot measure will help to raise money
■ them in college without making them pay even more for what is
■ »expensive learning experience.
■
Measure 67
YES!
Passing this measure is imperative to filling the
budget gaps in state programs caused by the eco
nomic recession. Measure 67 increases the mini
mum corporate tax in Oregon and also raises profit
taxes on corporation making over $500,000 a year.
The approximately $261 million that will be raised
by the tax will prevent major budget shortfalls in
community colleges and other services statewide.
These are funds that have already been promised to
community colleges by the state legislature.
If measure 67 doesn’t pass, Clackamas will have
many tough decisions to make. Since, most of the
expenses of the college are in the form of salaries
and wages, the only way to make cuts is to cut staff and faculty at Clackamas.
The last time this happened a whole program -drafting- at CCC was lost. Many
students who were a part of that program were left high-and-dry. If more bud
get cuts come, more classes and possibly whole departments could be lost.
Registration was already a mess this year, with classes fifling quickly and
many students finding themselves unable to take the classes they need.
The tax is progressive, meaning that corporations that make a higher profit
will pay a slightly larger portion of their profit in income taxes. This means
that lower income corporations like small businesses will be less affected by
the tax.
The corporate minimum tax hasn’t changed since 1931. It seems about time
to adapt it to modem times. Right now Oregon can’t afford to cut into educa
tion anymore, and this measure seems like an obvious method of preventing
those cuts. Too many students are suffering as it is.
Fortunately, the tax should have a relatively minimal effect on employment.
It seems a simple way for corporations in Oregon to assist the very people they
are employing and it does so without going to extreme measures.
Measure 67 will help keep students and employees at community colleges
across the state. With many people struggling to pay for classes, this measure
should make a difference. Tuition has already increased significantly since
last fall, and passing this measure will do much to keep it from increasing so
much again.
On January 26, Oregonians will be voting on
two ballot measures that will dramatically impact
state funded agencies and programs, including
Clackamas Community College. Ballot mea
sures 66 and 67 stand to shape the future, or lack
thereof, for many Oregonians.
The editorial staff at The Print feel these
measures are important and have drafted our
endorsements for the upcoming referendum.
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