This content was published: January 16, 2009. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
State economist offers gloomy preview of budget prediction
Photos and story by Dana Haynes
So I went to hear Tom Potiowsky, the state economist, give a preview of the next economic forecast before the House Revenue Committee this morning. I wouldn’t say Professor Potiowsky committed ritual suicide at the meeting, but darn close.
It was gloomy news. The revenue continues to drop like an anvil in a Warner Bros. cartoon.
In December, Gov. Ted Kulongoski offered up his budget proposal, which increased funding for public K-12 schools and the Oregon University System, while cutting funding for community colleges. This, at a time the 17 independent community colleges are seeing 10 percent increases in enrollment, year over year.
Potiowsky’s preview of the late-February revenue forecast suggests that the governor’s proposal to “hold harmless” K-12 and the OUS schools is unlikely to survive.
As reported by Peter Wong at the Statesman Journal, the governor based his 2009-11 budget on a mid-November estimate of $16.1 billion in the general fund, which relies largely on income taxes and lottery proceeds. But Potiowsky says the latest economic trends suggest that lawmakers will have just $15.1 billion to play with for the next two years.
What does this mean for PCC? Nobody knows. There’s a long way to go before the co-chairs of the Ways and Means Committee present their budget. And a long way to go before the 90 lawmakers adopt a budget.
Buckle up. It’s going to be an interesting ride.
About Dana Haynes
Dana Haynes, joined PCC in 2007 as the manager of the Office of Public Affairs, directing the college's media and government relations. Haynes spent the previous 20 years as a reporter, columnist and editor for Oregon newspapers, including ... more »