On Jan. 4, The Register-Guard published an article by Greg Bolt in which Bolt outlined the impact that the failure of Measure 28 would have for Lane Community College. Basically, if Measure 28 fails, LCC would have to cut an additional $1.6 million from its budget. This is on top of the more than $5 million cut from last year’s budget. What impact would this have on the college, its students, and on Lane County?
While not everyone in Lane County is an LCC student, one out of every seven people are, either part-time at LCC locations in Eugene, Florence, Cottage Grove, Elmira, Junction City and Oakridge, or as full-time students. Many of these students are taking courses such as nursing or dental hygiene in order to prepare themselves for well-paying careers, while others are taking general education courses that will enable them to transfer to a four-year institution, and still others are taking courses for personal fulfillment. How would the cuts which would be forced by the failure of Measure 28 impact these students?
As Bolt’s article pointed out, LCC would be forced to cut about 200 classes and raise the tuition again, this time by $2.50 per credit hour, which would bring total tuition to $51.50 per credit hour. Both the cuts in class offerings and the increased tuition tend to reduce access to LCC. Why is this a concern to the rest of Lane County who are not either students at LCC or the parents of such students?
Last year, LCC did a cost-benefit study to determine the social and economic benefits to the taxpayers of Lane County and to the students who attend LCC. Some of the results included the fact that taxpayers will see a return of 18.9 percent on their annual investments in LCC while LCC students enjoy a return of $4.99 in higher future earnings for each $1 the student invests in LCC. The state of Oregon, and Lane County also, benefits from improved health and reduced crime and welfare since educated people take better care of themselves, commit less property crimes and are less likely to be unemployed or on welfare.
These are some of the reasons why I, along with the other LCC Board members, voted in support of a resolution of support for Measure 28 and why I am hopeful that Oregon voters will see that an investment in LCC is a wise investment. Please join me and other members of the LCC family in voting “yes” on Measure 28. Remember, taxes are the price we pay for civilization.