Oregon faces $563 million budget hole, Governor promises layoffs | Oregonlive.com

Oregon faces $563 million budget hole, Governor promises layoffs | Oregonlive.com

Oregon faces $563 million budget hole, Governor promises layoffs

By Harry Esteve, The Oregonian

May 25, 2010, 7:51PM

Gov. Ted KulongoskiSALEM – Shock waves from the recession continue to wreak havoc in Oregon, punching a big hole in the state budget and prompting Gov. Ted Kulongoski to order hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to schools and other state programs.

The cuts, if they stand, could eliminate school days, idle some state police troopers, and lead to pay freezes and benefit rollbacks for state workers.

"There will be layoffs," the governor stated flatly.

Although Congress could come through with additional money for troubled states, Kulongoski said he can't count on a federal bailout.

'Not acceptable:' Nearly one-third of Oregon high school students drop out

By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

May 25, 2010, 7:42PM

View full sizeTorsten Kjellstrand/The OregonianPortland high school student Alex Madsen, 19, focuses on completing an assignment during his lunch break at the Meek campus of Alliance High, a district-run alternative school. A member of the class of 2009, Madsen nearly dropped out during his junior year at Benson High but rallied and will graduate next month. "The big thing the diploma means to me is I got it done. I got to where I need to be."