Senate passes education budget - Portland Business Journal:

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By a 21-6 count, the Senate measure will fund schoolzsat $6 billion for the next two Sen. Margaret Carter, a Portlanrd Democrat and the Ways and Means Committee said the budget consists oftargetedr cuts, stimulus dollars and state reserves. The budget also includess new revenue fromlast week’sa measures that increased Oregon’s corporate minimum, corporatse income and personal income tax of wealthy “Stability is key to the successa of our schools,” said Carter. “This budget offerz school districts certainty that they can keep their doorsx open and continue to provide a quality education to our childrenjand grandchildren.
” The state’s reserves will stillo contain $500 million despite the decisiobn to tap $200 million of the funds for the schoola budget. Democrats said the budget should alloww schools to maintain full school years from 2009 to 2011 without cuts to staffand services. “Thisw budget is not perfect, but it is far from the worst case scenario,” said Sen. Rod Monroe, a Portland Democrat and co-chai r of the Ways and Means Subcommitteeon “The fact of the matter is that we are in very challenginv times and we’ve made tough decisions to make this budget The House will consider the billsx before the legislative session Democratic leaders have said they want to close the sessiob by July 1.