Cheers: To strong revenue projections. State officials have estimated that the current two-year budget, which ends in mid-2017, will have a surplus of about $308 million. A growing economy has boosted tax revenue beyond what was expected and has eased the strain on funding for state programs.
But while the boost is good news, it will not relieve the pressure on lawmakers when the Legislature convenes in January. Budget writers still will be faced with a huge invoice for funding public schools, a task they have given limited attention to in recent years. Looking ahead, budget watchers also project an increase of about $127 million in revenue for the 2017-19 state budget — another good sign but one that can change in a fickle economy.
Jeers: To poor planning. The Monday morning commute in Portland — which includes thousands of drivers from Clark County — was even worse than normal this week due to some untimely bridge lifts. That is because seven ships, which had been in Portland for Fleet Week as part of the Rose Festival, decided to leave town at the height of rush hour.
The Broadway Bridge across the Willamette River in the heart of Portland was raised just before 8 a.m. and remained up for nearly an hour. Other bridges across the Willamette also were raised, snarling traffic throughout the region. The Oregonian reported that Multnomah County, which operates the bridges, has the authority to deny passage to vessels during rush hour, but typically defers to the military in such cases. The problem could be avoided with a little coordination.
Cheers: To communication skills. The RSVP pen pal program at several Evergreen elementary schools has brought together fifth-graders and volunteers throughout the community this school year as they spent time exchanging letters. This week, the correspondence buddies got to meet at an end-of-year party.
In an age when young generations are more prone to communicating through text messages, tweets, and emojis, the program is helping to develop lifelong skills that might otherwise be overlooked. Writing letters teaches students that the real world cannot be limited to 140 characters and that forming complete sentences is essential. In addition, they got to make new friends they otherwise would never have known.
Jeers: To brown marmorated stink bugs. Scientists say it will be a big year for the pesky insect, which means bad news for farmers, gardeners, and urban dwellers. The brown marmorated stink bug, which was inadvertently brought to the United States from Asia in the late 1990s, has become prevalent in this part of the country and is expected to thrive due to a balmy winter in the area.
“They can easily populate and feed on everything,” one scientist told The Columbian. “It’s really a damaging insect to the specialty crops like tree fruit, vegetables, and berries.” In addition, there’s a reason it’s called a “stink” bug, which could lead to an malodorous summer for local residents.
Cheers: To a quick response. The issue of lead in drinking water is not to be trifled with, and Ridgefield school officials acted quickly upon learning they might have a problem. When a preliminary report revealed elevated lead levels at Ridgefield High School and View Ridge Middle School, administrators communicated with staff and parents as quickly as possible.
With the end of the school year, officials have time to address the problem over the summer. But the first concern — communication with those affected — has been taken care of. Several other schools throughout Clark County also have discovered elevated lead levels, and ensuring the safety of students will be a priority before school resumes in the fall.
