HOOD RIVER — Oregon superintendents received potential budget cut scenarios from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) last week, Hood River County School District (HRCSD) Superintendent Bill Newton included.
The proposals, representing potential cuts of 2.5% and 5%, “are a required response to a significant state budget shortfall, primarily driven by the financial effects of the federal House Resolution 1, also known as One Big Beautiful Bill,” Newton said at the Nov. 12 school board meeting.
Draft proposals that would have the most significant impact on the district include “elimination of the Local Option Levy equalization grant payment, which equates to $750,000 per year to our school district; and reductions in High School success and Student Investment Account funding,” he said.
HRCSD passed Measure 14-76 in May 2023, a continuation of the Local Option Levy that voters have supported since November 2004.
This is the first step in the legislative budget process, and proposed cuts will not be enacted immediately. Board Chair Chrissy Reitz said that having the Local Option Levy equalization grant on the list, however, is concerning.
“When we went out to our community, that equalization grant was something that was really kind of a carrot, to say, not only would our community be giving tax dollars, but we would actually be getting tax dollars from outside of our community to help fund our schools,” she said during board comments. “… For them to try to draw them back at this point is really not an acceptable thing.”
Reitz encouraged community members to contact State Rep. Jeff Helfrich and State Sen. Christine Drazan and urge them to keep the funding source open.
ODE’s draft cuts were set to be reviewed by the Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee on Nov. 18 (after press deadline). “The severity of the cuts will be heavily influenced by the Nov. 19 Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast,” Newton said.
While some reductions are considered inevitable, the final decisions rest with the Legislature during the 2026 session that begins in February, he added in a follow up email.
This is a continuing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
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