Seated L to R: Holli Johnson, Angela VanKrause, Rosemary Pryor Standing L to R: Lisa Fragala, Austin Folnagy, Mike Eyster, Steve Mital
The state of Oregon and Lane Community College are facing serious financial consequences due to the Republican-led walk out in the Oregon Senate. LCC can not figure out their financial future if the Oregon budget doesn’t get passed.
LCC has scrambled every year to take out loans when there is a budget delay at the state level. This has been a consistent struggle since 2003 according to the board press release. The LCC board has been “actively engaging with Lane County’s state legislative delegation and legislative leadership” according to a press release the board sent out on June 8. They are cautioning the legislators that if the 2023 budget doesn’t get passed it would have adverse effects on the LCC community.
LCC Board Chair Rosie Pryor penned a letter to Oregon legislators outlining the problems they are causing by continuing this walkout. “The current legislative gridlock jeopardizes this certainty as it affects students’ ability to confidently anticipate receiving an Oregon Opportunity Grant, Oregon Promise Grant, or Oregon Tribal Grant. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission has informed us that the Continuing Resolution, as it stands, does not authorize them to fully disburse funding for these critical programs. This situation will likely significantly impact our enrollment negatively for the entire 2023-24 academic year.” The funding for those grants and even funding for the health clinic on campus are tied up in several pieces of legislation currently dying on the Senate floor.
LCC is prepared to take out a $9 million loan which would accrue $500,000 in interest if the state can’t pass a budget. LCC already took out a $5 million loan last month to address budget shortfalls with $200,000 in interest. That $700,000 in interest is going to be passed along to taxpayers in LCC’s district if the Senate fails to pass their budget. LCC will get no additional funding if the Republican Senators are successful in their walkout, putting the future of LCC at risk. Pryor did not downplay the potential catastrophe this walkout might cause. “I implore you to help us end the current stalemate. The future of our students, and the vital role the college plays in the community, is at risk.”
The Republican walkout has lasted more than a month, making it the longest walkout in Oregon history. The session is set to end on June 25 and over 130 bills addressing budget, safety, wildfire, reproductive care and gender affirming care are at risk.
