Half of this funding comes from tobacco settlement funds. The other half comes from a reduction in the State School Fund, and redirects the funding to these new investments. As additional General Fund or Lottery resources become available the Governor plans to reduce the amount of tobacco settlement funds dedicated to schools. The budget makes a number of enhancements to increase capacity in the Department of Education and to increase grants to schools for specific issues. Oregon pre-kindergarten services will be expanded.
Funding is provided to expand higher education opportunities in Central Oregon.
These resources are for the Central Oregon University Center in support of a branch campus. The Oregon Student Assistance Commission will be able to offer additional Opportunity Grants from interest earnings on the Education Endowment Fund. General Fund to subsidize OHSU will decrease by about six percent from the 1999-2001 Legislatively Approved Budget. These resources are intended to pay debt service costs for a new facility beginning in the second year of the biennium. The recommended budget reduces the Department of Higher Education's General Fund current service level budget.