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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2011)
ECONorthwest study found. Mean-spirited This four-year, modest ($120 a year independent kid and teacher bashers have desperately thrown every distortion and outright lie they can at this measure in an on average) tax is by far the most effort to defeat it. All the opponent arguments could apply to any government tax. The taxes for jails and potholes that conservatives back all involve imperfect PERS benefi ts and important thing on the ballot. Without even more imperfect tax collection systems. The difference here simply comes down to the sad fact that opponents the school funding measure, 100 value prisons and asphalt more than innocent children. We don’t, and neither should the people of Eugene. teachers could lose their jobs and 4J Measure 20-183 — and Bethel kids could suffer classrooms Ballot General obligation bonds for 4J school facilities — YES The school board shouldn’t have put this $70 million packed with more than 50 kids and measure on the ballot this election. Too many people don’t understand that this property tax measure, unlike the 20-182 school weeks cut to four days. income tax funding, won’t keep schools open, it will just repair the buildings, and put stuff in them. Even a gleaming new school building with the best equipment is useless unless there is funding for teachers to keep it open. That’s what the income tax does, not this bond measure. Under our state’s wacky tax laws, the School District can raise taxes for school buildings but not to actually keep them open. We’re skeptical that the district would actually lose the $15 million in federal funding if it were not on the ballot now. Even if that’s true, the district could have gone with a $15 million measure that could have secured the match without making the operating measure harder to pass. That said, we won’t take out our frustration with the board decision on kids trying to learn in 4J’s ramshackle buildings. Roofi ng, plumbing, heating, seismic safety, technology improvements and new classroom confi gurations for kids are clearly needed. If you absolutely have to choose, though, the income tax Measure 20-182’s funding to actually run the schools is clearly more important. Assistance League’s BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR Wednesday, May 11th thru Saturday, May 14th • 10-4 Take UO credit courses without being admitted—learn how! Most items 50% OFF and more!!! Information Open House Free giveaways with purchase! Thursday, May 12, 2011, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Baker Downtown Center, 975 High Street 1149 WILLAMETTE ST. Located at the corner of 10th Avenue and High Street via EmX High Street stop; limited parking available. Open to the public. Staff are available to answer questions. Explore the unique opportunities of UO summer classes: • smaller class size • weekends • varied length sessions • online ity Univers ries on Libra of Oreg Through the Community Education Program (CEP) you can take university courses— graduate or undergraduate—without formal admission. See website for more information. Find details on tuition and eligibility at http://cep.uoregon.edu 541-346-5614 cep@uoregon.edu See the Class Schedule at http://classes.uoregon.edu EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity. © 2011 University of Oregon Women’s Health & Annual Exams Anne Marie Moore, WHNP-BC 541-393-2334 Friendly, personalized & compassionate healthcare Nurse Practioner, Board Certified annemariemoore.com WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 5, 2011 13
