The Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee members were clear Thursday, May 11: They want to put more money in education — if it is available.
The Legislature will find out exactly how much money it can spend when the state revenue forecast comes out Wednesday, May 17.
The subcommittee took up House Bill 5015, the State School Fund, on Thursday. The robust discussion likely foreshadowed the debate when the bill gets heard before the full Ways and Means Committee, which writes all the state’s checks.
Legislative Highlights has been offering a weekly look at the State School Fund process, “Funding Oregon’s Future.” With HB 5015 moving down the track, education advocates are readying their final push for $10.3 billion, the amount schools say they need for most districts to avoid shortfalls in 2023-25.
“My heart is to fund them at what they are asking … because we have a crisis in education,” said Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, during Thursday’s hearing. McIntire, an Eagle Point School Board member, has been vocal all session about schools’ needs and challenges.
Sen. Lew Frederick, a longtime schools supporter, said he believed everyone on the committee would like to see higher funding for education but that desire has to be balanced against the state’s other spending needs.
Rep. Tracy Cramer, R-Woodburn, proposed an amendment to raise the State School Fund to $10.4 billion. It failed on a party-line vote.
Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said he couldn’t support more money for the State School Fund “at this time.” He pointed to education needs beyond the K-12 fund, including higher education funding, summer learning, school workforce support and early learning programs. He said he hopes the revenue report will give the Legislature more to work with.
“It’s premature for us to lock up extra dollars into the State School Fund at this point,” he said.
Oregon budget writers are facing a tight year, with state agencies scaling back while Gov. Tina Kotek fights for money for early learning and to combat homelessness. The Ways and Means Committee co-chairs proposed $9.9 billion for the State School Fund in March based on the economic report that came out in February.
On Wednesday, the Legislature will hear another quarterly Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast, the last one of this session. If Oregon continues its streak of rising revenue estimates, education advocates will argue some of that additional money should go to schools.
The education subcommittee passed the Legislative Fiscal Office’s recommended $9.9 billion State School Fund with an amendment that adjusted some of the revenue streams but didn’t affect the total amount. It now goes to the full Ways and Means Committee, which will likely settle the final amount. It would be unusual for the State School Fund amount to change once it goes to the Senate or House for a vote. The Legislature could also add education funding in other ways with end-of-session bills.
After Thursday’s vote, Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, said he would urge the co-chairs to keep education in mind if the forecast is good.
“I think there is no question we want to put more resources in the State School Fund,” he said.
– Jake Arnold, OSBA
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The previous story: ‘Funding Formula 101’ delves into State School Fund intricacies
