1. Activities
  2. Tired of debilitating public school budget cuts? Want to help stabilize public education funding for our children? Here's a simple way how.
Tired of debilitating public school budget cuts? Want to help stabilize public education funding for our children? Here's a simple way how.
Wed, Jan 21 8:57am

Hello Duniway!

Public education is getting up-ended by the current state of Oregon's budget.  Our bleak economic forecast requires unplanned cuts to essential services for Oregonian's, including education, unless legislators tap into emergency reserve funds (Education Stability Fund and the Corporate Activity Tax) to stabilize this year's education budget.

Unfortunately, budget cuts to public education funding have become the norm in Oregon.  Our public education system cannot continue to absorb this funding instability and we can no longer cut our way out of this budget crisis.   Let's ask our lawmakers to put more state tax dollars towards education, giving our children the education they deserve and need to thrive (see attached Revenue Explainer about how public education funding is tied to tax dollars). 

Our voices have impact.  Let's raise them loud and strong together for commonsense tax reform.  

WHY is sensible and equitable revenue reform crucial?

  • ​Oregon’s outdated tax laws make prosperity possible only for some. Change is needed, especially as cash from the federal government starts to disappear.

  • State legislators can make prosperity possible for all by funding services that support communities. Schools are particularly important.


WHAT revenue reform is critical in 2026?  

Our lawmakers are convening their short legislative session in February.  Let's ask them to:

  • Loudly support and vote YES for the Revenue Forecast Modernization Act. This bill would reform the “Kicker” tax rebate so that already-collected tax dollars can fund schools, healthcare and more. As written now, the "Kicker" most benefits the wealthiest Oregonians who need it least.  This bill is sponsored (written) by our District 41 representative Mark Gamba.

  • Advocate to de-couple the Oregon tax rate from the federal tax rate. Right now, Oregon’s tax rates mimics (by law) the federal tax rate. The federal tax code increasingly concentrates wealth among the few. Oregon must break away from this federal coupling to care for Oregonians.


HOW you can help! 

Over the next 3 weeks, the Advocacy Committee will be running a legislative letter and postcard writing campaign.  We are providing letter templates and post-cards, pre-made lawmaker names/contact info labels AND we will mail these for you!

💪 Email your district lawmakers AND key legislative leadership (very important).  Templated emails and contact information are attached.  Your personal story of impact is always the most important for our legislators to hear. 

💪 3 in-person post-card writing opportunities for adults and kids.  This is a fun way to civically engage our children!
           
        Variety Show (1/23) - kid post-cards available!
        Principal's Coffee (1/30)
        Winter Social (early event) (2/6) - kid post-cards available!


It's time Oregon made critical changes to care for all Oregonians.  Let's do this together.

In solidarity for our children and our public schools,

Your Duniway Advocacy Committee