University students’ tuition was headed for an increase Tuesday night as voters rejected Measure 28, the hotly disputed income tax increase. The measure’s apparent failure drew criticism from University officials and praise from detractors.
Although many analysts had speculated the measure would ultimately fail, polls released last week showed higher support than anticipated, sparking hope among supporters.
But the outcome spoke for itself, with more than half of voters casting ballots against the measure. At press time, the Emerald had compiled 88 percent of the statewide vote, with 54.6 percent of voters rejecting Measure 28 and 45.4 percent supporting it.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed because it means we’ll have to implement tuition surcharges on students and make additional cuts to programs and services,” University President Dave Frohnmayer said.
Frohnmayer added that, despite the inevitable cuts and surcharges, class options will still remain intact, and funds will be available to support the neediest students.
“We don’t want students to feel they are at risk,” he said.
Throughout the past few months, agencies in charge of state services and public education have reported staggering cuts to their budgets if Measure 28 were to fail. Now, the Legislature will likely have to work toward a funding plan to avoid these cuts.
Oregon University System officials said they will have to slash $26.9 million from higher education — about $6.1 million of which will be cut from the University’s budget. The average University student taking 13.5 credits now will face $135 surcharges for each of winter and spring terms.
State mental health and addiction services also estimated a cut of $12.6 million during the next five months, and $49.3 million over the next biennium — potentially putting about 10,400 adults and 3,500 children out in the cold if the Legislature does not revisit cuts.
Eric Winters, a member of the Libertarian Party, said his organization was gratified that voters were able to see through the “propaganda” about devastating cuts to state programs and services accompanying the measure’s failure.
“We’re delighted about the opportunity now for Libertarian ideas about privatization aspects of the government to (take hold),” he said.
Winters added that he hoped the Legislature would now focus on revisiting its spending practices, including reform of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System and privatization of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
“There are so many other solutions that are going to be available,” he said. Kitty Piercy, Lane County Yes on 28 Committee co-chairwoman, said she had mixed feelings about the election results.
“I have pride that so many people worked so hard for this, and we did such a good job that (detractors) were worried up to the very last minute about what was going to happen,” she said. “And I’m really sad that we didn’t get it passed.”
Liz Cawood, the other co-chairwoman of Lane County’s Yes on 28 Committee, said the Measure’s failure will hurt the poorest people in the state.
“I think obviously what we need is tax reform in this state,” she said. “And we aren’t willing to bite the bullet.”