With just days remaining until ballots are "dropped" in the mail, the campaigns surrounding Measures 66 and 67 are hitting high gear. 

The measures, scheduled for the January 26 ballot, would provide $733 million for Oregon schools, healthcare, public safety and services for seniors and the disadvantaged.  Revenue from the corporate and personal income tax measures is already included in the 2009-11 state budget.  The 2009 legislature cut education, human services, public safety and other state programs by nearly $2 billion; if the measures are defeated, another $733 million would need to be cut from the state budget, including an estimated $285 million from K-12 budgets.

The COSA Board has adopted a resolution supporting a "yes" vote on ballot measures 66 and 67.  Recent polling shows that the measures have a very real chance to pass.  As in every campaign, one key to victory is for supporters to do the grass roots work of knocking on doors and making phone calls, as well as to getting the message out, primarily via television.  There are plenty of opportunities for supporters to get involved and do their part, including:

• Participate in canvasses and phone banks between now and January 26. There are phone banks and/or canvasses happening almost every day; check out the latest field calendar (and check back often for updates).
• Sponsor a "Yes for Oregon" television advertisement - individual ad prices start at just $13.
• Send a "Yes on 66 & 67" holiday card
• Please visit Vote Yes for Oregon for more opportunities and information.

COSA has developed a set of resources school leaders can use to learn more about the measures, as well as share information with local audiences:

• COSA Board Resolution on Measures 66 & 67
• Impacts of Reduced State Funding on Oregon Schools
• Revenue Package Facts, Scripted Presentation (PowerPoint 2003)
• Revenue Package Facts, Scripted Presentation (PowerPoint 2007) 
• How will Measures 66 & 67 affect school funding? (MS Word 2003)
• How will Measures 66 & 67 affect school funding? (MS Word 2007)
• What happens if the ballot measures are defeated?
• OCPP Measure 67 Flow Chart: Which businesses will pay tax?