2005-01-21 Alert

School SDC Hearing!

SCHOOL SDC BILL HEARING!

For the many who have fought so hard and so long for school SDCs, YOUR CHANCE IS COMING (again) TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!

We told you about Senator Kurt Schrader's SB-307 in our last Legislative Alert. It would include K-12 schools on the list of things for which System Development Charges could be imposed.

That bill has been assigned to the Senate Environment & Land Use Committee (an unusual assignment). It so happens that Senator Charlie Ringo, who introduced SB-500 in the last session for school SDCs, is the chairman of that committee. AND A HEARING ON THE BILL HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 31, 3 PM, HEARING ROOM "B" AT THE CAPITOL.

The committee members and contacts are:
  

Senator Charlie Ringo, Chair	S-318	503-986-1717	sen.charlieringo@state.or.us
Senator Jason Atkinson, Vice Chair	S-216	503-986-1702	sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us
Senator Roger Beyer	S-217	503-986-1709	sen.rogerbeyer@state.or.us
Senator Ginny Burdick	S-317	503-986-1718	sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us
Senator Frank Shields	S-309	503-986-1727	sen.frankshields@state.or.us

The state capitol address is 900 Court St., Salem, 97301

Needless to say, the usual "unholy alliance" will bring out the heavy artillery against this one. However, the good news is that A) the bill is getting an early hearing; B) it's currently the first item on the agenda, so there's a better chance of actually getting to testify; and C) The committee chair is expected to be a supporter.

We need to concentrate on getting SB 307 out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation. The best way to do that is through a MULTITUDE of contacts to the committee members! And if you can go to the capitol that day to testify, please do so - I can't. Bring LOTS of quarters to feed the parking meters!

So please get the word out to your groups ASAP. Be aware that committee schedules change all the time. It's best to confirm (via the Legislature's website www.leg.state.or.us) a day before or even the day of the hearing.

Here's our chance to do something about the sorry state of school funding in Oregon. SDCs for schools are long overdue. OCVA has always supported SDC reform. We need to do it again - NOW!

Jerry Ritter
Secretary, OCVA

This page last modified on 2005-11-16 08:29.