Oregon Governor And Lawmakers At Budget Impasse

With the uncertainty of those additional dollars, school districts around the state are budgeting to $5.6 billion, cutting more teachers and school days than may be necessary.

In order to reverse that trend, legislative Democrats decided to increase the K-12 budget to $5.8 billion, with just $200 million contingent on the economy. "In their mind, there was a great deal more certainty" in that plan, said Geoff Sugerman, a spokesman for House Speaker Dave Hunt.

The extra money, of course, jibes with the wishes of school advocates.

"I think the additional commitment that the money will be there for K-12 ... is very reassuring," said Otto Schell of the Oregon Parent-Teachers Association. "I don't think that what is being proposed is reckless."

But the governor does.

Kulongoski worries the economy could continue its downward spiral and the state's deficit could grow. He's also concerned that recently approved tax increases on corporations and the wealthy might not materialize. Fiscal conservatives have threatened to collect enough signatures to put the tax plan before voters, and Oregonians are rarely keen on new taxes.