Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's legislative budget writers released a two-year spending proposal Tuesday that they say includes cuts to every state program.

Michael Clapp / OPB

The $14.6 billion plan includes more money for K-12 education than proposed by Governor John Kitzhaber. But it's still far short of what school districts say they need to continue current service levels.

The budget announcement also doesn't have much good news for state workers says Democratic state Senator Richard Devlin. He's the Senate Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

Richard Devlin:  "We are not anticipating any cost of living increases. We are not anticipating any step increases. We are anticipating that there will be an effort for employees to share in part of the health care costs and potentially in part of PERS."

PERS is the public employee retirement plan. Most state worker compensation issues are subject to collective bargaining between public employee unions and the governor. This budget proposal will go before legislative committees over the coming months.

Oregon Legislative Co-Chairs Budget