Oregon schools' panel set to inform voters about levy

Zalar THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Oregon City Schools Superintendent Mike Zalar has formed a committee to raise awareness about a 5.9-mill, five-year emergency operating levy that will be on the ballot for the Nov. 2 general election.

The Oregon Board of Education recently began promoting the levy, which would raise nearly $3.4 million annually. It will cost the owner of a $100,000 house $180 per year.

The Oregon Schools Levy Committee, Mr. Zalar's primary means of promoting the measure, has sent letters to community vendors requesting monetary support for a pro-levy campaign.

This is standard procedure, as the district is forbidden from spending tax dollars on a levy campaign.

The current initiative comes on the heels of last year's failed campaign to pass a 5.95-mill levy, which Oregon City voters rejected in August, 2009.

This time around, though, Mr. Zalar expects the levy to pass.

"I'm optimistic that the community, once they are informed of what's at stake, will support their schools," he said.

Though the board considered putting a 10-year emergency levy on the November, 2009, ballot, it decided against it, instead enacting wage freezes and health-insurance changes that helped save the district nearly $1.3 million.

Without the proposed levy, the latest five-year forecast predicts the district will have a $1.6 million deficit for the 2011-2012 school year, which could rise to $15 million by the 2013-2014 school year.

This likely will entail significant cuts in various academic and extracurricular programs in the district.

"Without some additional revenue, the district will be forced to make some very difficult decisions about future programming," Mr. Zalar said.

But if the levy passes, the district could stave off budget problems until the 2013-2014 school year, when it would have a $4.3 million deficit.

Estimates indicate the district would need to make $850,000 in annual cuts in the 2011-2012 to maintain a balanced budget in the next four years.

Blade Staff Writer Dennis Howe contributed to this report.

Contact Greta Stetson at:

gstetson@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.