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In admirable show of chutzpah, Oregon univ presidents ask state for >$100M

Andrew Theen has the story in the Oregonian:

Measure 97’s failure creates tough decisions for Oregon lawmakers next year, but the state’s public university presidents say one choice should be clear: Keep funding higher education.

Oregon’s seven public university presidents signed a joint letter Wednesday asking for a “minimum” of $100 million funding increase for higher education in the next biennium.

The failed tax on corporations wasn’t expected to contribute to higher education, but it would have helped address a built-in budget shortfall of more than $1 billion. Despite the challenges, the presidents said, Oregon can still work make its public universities affordable for residents.

“This investment will allow all campuses to keep tuition increases to a manageable level for the next two years and ensure that students can graduate without taking on a lifetime of debt,” they wrote.

The letter is the latest signal of urgency expected when the Legislature convenes in 2017, coming on the heels of a memo from 18 lawmakers urging the state to take on more debt to help pay for the proposed Phil and Penny Knight Center for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon and Oregon State’s growth plans at its Bend campus. The Nike co-founder and his wife have committed $500 million to the science complex. …

3 Comments

  1. Anonymous 11/10/2016

    If this fails we should demand it, like BLM.

  2. Chutzpah 11/10/2016

    Now, if they had only had the CHUTZPAH to actually help pass Measure 97 and not just demand cuts in K-12 and kids/seniors healthcare to fund their extravagant pay packages ….

  3. Inquiring Mind 11/11/2016

    Quick everyone go out and buy a lot of marijuana to fund the state’s gap!! When they go low, we get high!

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