Measure 1

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Ballot Measure 1 amends the Oregon Constitution by adding a provision relating to public education funding to Article VIII. Public education includes education provided by school districts, community colleges, public universities and other public education providers.

Currently statutes establish quality goals for public education. The Oregon Constitution does not require the legislature to fund public education to meet these goals.

This measure requires the legislature to fund a sufficient amount of money to meet public education quality goals as established by the legislature. The measure also requires the legislature to publish a report that demonstrates to the public that the funding for public education is sufficient to meet the quality goals or must state the reasons for any insufficiency, the extent of the insufficiency and the impact that will have on the ability of public education providers to meet the quality goals.

Currently the Oregon Constitution and existing statutes allow a school district to levy local option taxes in excess of the amount of property taxes that may be approved under the school district's property tax rate limit. This would happen provided the tax is approved by a majority of the electors of the district in a general election or an election in which 50 percent of the eligible voters participate.

This measure requires the legislature to establish grants to property poor districts that levy the local option tax. The measure directs the legislature to determine the amount of the grants and to establish the criteria for the grants.
 
Committee Members:
Joanne Waller
Duncan Wyse 
Senator Gene Derfler 
Senator Marylin Shannon
Ron Saxton 
Appointed by:
Chief Petitioners
Chief Petitioners
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Members of the Committee

(This committee was appointed to provide an impartial explanation of the ballot measure pursuant to ORS 251.215.)

Arguments in Favor

Arguments in Opposition

State Measures

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