August 26, 2021 3:15 a.m. 

Officials are reacting to the latest state revenue forecast.

On Tuesday, the Office of Economic Analysis presented the quarterly projection. It confirmed that Oregon taxpayers will receive a $1.9 billion Kicker. The corporate Kicker will send an additional $850 million to K-12 schools. The state budget will also have an ending fund balance of $699 million.

Governor Kate Brown said “Today’s revenue forecast is another sign that Oregon’s economy is healthy, strong and on the path for a rapid recovery”. Brown said this is welcome news at a time when Oregonians continue to face immense challenges” from wildfire recovery to “…our worst surge of cases and hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Senate President Peter Courtney said the state economy remains strong. Courtney said, “We have more money to invest in pandemic relief, childcare and housing. We are still in a crisis”. He said the Legislature will help out Oregonians who have been hurt the most. Courtney said, “I look forward to doing this as fast as we can”.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazen said “Despite a budget that has doubled in ten years, the state is worse off today for our student’s education, housing prices, and the safety of our communities”. Drazen said state agencies have fumbled distribution of unemployment checks and rent assistance for those in desperate need. Drazen said “The spending spree of the last decade has not solved Oregonian’s problems”. She said billions in new taxes did not make things better and “…the state can’t continue to operate this way”.