SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Senate has unanimously passed two education funding bills that will leave schools $1 billion short of the money they say is needed to continue current services.
The Senate voted 30-0 on Tuesday to give schools $5.7 billion over the next two years. The funding draws on $123 million from savings, but education lobbyists and some lawmakers have said the state should dig deeper into reserve accounts.
Lawmakers say their vote is difficult but necessary because the state is short on money. They say they hope that approving school funding promptly will give administrators time to plan for the cuts they’ll have to make.
Democratic Sen. Rod Monroe of Portland says the budget is “sacrosanct” and will not be whittled down even if tax collections take another hit.
