May 20, 2021 3:30 a.m.
State leaders are reacting to a new revenue forecast for the state of Oregon.
The forecast said the state is on track to bring in an additional $1 billion in tax revenues during this budget cycle. A release from the Oregon Senate Republicans said that will trigger one of the largest kicker refunds in state history at $1.4 billion. That’s enough to give every Oregonian $330.
Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod said “Money is coming out our ears. This one-time dump of federal money needs to be used responsibly”. Girod said Republicans must ensure that taxpayers get their full kicker. Senate Republicans are proposing that lawmakers fully fund and fully reopen Oregon K-12 schools with a budget of $9.6 billion.
Senate President Peter Courtney said “This is unbelievable. In all my years in the legislature, I have never seen a forecast like this”. Courtney said Oregon’s economy is clearly one of the most stable in the country. He said, “We have what we need to deal with the damage caused by the great fire and the pandemic”. Courtney said lawmakers can really do something about the pain and suffering of Oregonians right now.
Governor Kate Brown said the new forecast “…reaffirms that Oregon’s outlook for rapid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s historic wildfires remains strong”. Brown said with sold state revenues expected over the next three biennia, coupled with historical federal investments from the American Rescue Plan and the American Jobs Plan, “…we have a tremendous opportunity for transformational change”.
Brown said the anticipated revenues will allow Oregon to fully fund the state agency base budgets, make investments prioritized by the Racial Justice Council, move forward with a $9.3 billion school budget, fully fund the Student Success Act, and ensure no one is kicked off the Oregon Health Plan, among other things. Brown said the investments will “…help Oregonians recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and move Oregon toward a future where equity is realized and all are equal”.
Revenue forecast documents can be found on the Oregon Legislatures website: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Committees/HREV/2021-05-19-15-15/MeetingMaterials