I Voted YES on 66 & 67

There has been a lot of debate about measures 66 & 67...there has also been a lot of false information given out about how this measure will effect the community. Let me assure you, if these measures DON'T PASS, the community WILL be effected. Schools WILL close, people WILL lose their jobs, and kids WILL suffer because corporations don't want to pay their fair share!

The reality of these measures is that the people who make a large amount of $ are the ones that will be paying a small percentage more of their taxes. Most people won't be effected by this at all--except the kids and the other people who get services, they will benefit. If these measures don't pass, every school in this state will lose more than $450 per student enrolled in their schools. So a district like Portland will lose A LOT of money. In my district we will lose 4 million...and we are a small district! That is equal to 20 days or 50 teachers! Last year we had to make cuts because the state couldn't pay what they promised--We cut 5 days, took a pay cut, froze our benefits, lost PE, cut back on Music and support staff, weren't able to purchase new curriculum, and lost counselors and 30+ teachers--there is no where else to cut!! The kids are the ones that are going to get hurt if these measures don't pass!

Let's put some of the burden back on to the corporations!! Back with measure 5, my parents property taxes went up $1,000 in that year, and the company she was a CPA for's property taxes (they owned hotels) went DOWN $25,000. That measure put the tax burden on the individual and families....measures 66 & 67 are making that shift back to having corporations pay their fair share. If they want a good work force in the future, then they need to pay the $.

Oh, and on the job side of this...everyone is so concerned about the jobs that will be lost if these measures pass...what about those jobs that will be lost if these measures don't pass. People never seem to care about if teachers, police, fire, health professionals, staff at schools, universities, or non-profits lose their jobs. Our jobs are a necessity to the community, so people think that they will always be there. Sure a skeleton crew can run a school, but at that point it just becomes babysitting! So how about caring about our jobs too!!! Passing 66 & 67 support all these services and fund our schools (just barely, mind you), if they do not pass it will cause great job loss within those professions that are needing that $!

Schools are not the ones that need to take the hit during this budget crisis. Kids and their futures should not suffer because of the choices that the adults in power are making. Kids deserve more than that!