Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek鈥檚 proposed budget allocates more for higher education than the last biennium. But university and community college leaders say the budget doesn鈥檛 keep up with increased costs institutions are facing.
The leaders argue the inadequate funding could make higher education more expensive for Oregonians and slow down the state鈥檚 workforce development efforts.
, released earlier this week, is a guideline for state lawmakers ahead of next year鈥檚 legislative session. In her proposal, Gov. Kotek doubled down on her top three funding priorities: confronting Oregon鈥檚 homelessness and affordable housing emergency, K-12 education and addressing the state鈥檚 behavioral health care crisis.
Higher education appears to be lower on the list of concerns.
鈥淭his is generally what we expected given the Governor鈥檚 collaboration with agencies during the development of Agency Request Budgets, the state鈥檚 revenue constraints and numerous pressing statewide priorities,鈥� said Higher Education Coordinating Commission Executive Director Ben Cannon in a statement. Back in August, HECC commissioners to the governor, objecting to the budget-setting process which led up to this week鈥檚 recommended budget.
In the 2025-2027 biennium, the governor recommends $4.39 billion for the agency responsible for two main funding streams for colleges and universities: operating revenue to run the institutions and financial aid programs to help students afford the cost of college.
The proposal, a 6.4% overall increase from the last biennium, sets aside more than $25 million to build up education pathways that lead to behavioral health care jobs and nearly $29 million to expand select need-based grants, like the Oregon Opportunity Grant.
But those investments fall well short of what college leaders say are necessary, especially when it comes to financial aid for needy students.
Higher education leaders in both the community college and university realm want to see lawmakers increase funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the state鈥檚 largest student financial aid program. Both the Oregon Community College Association and the Oregon Council of Presidents are calling for an additional $150 million investment in this program alone, more than five times what the governor鈥檚 budget recommends.
Operating revenue for the schools is not where it needs to be either, argue college leaders and funding advocates. State support for Oregon鈥檚 17 community colleges saw a boost, with the governor鈥檚 budget recommending more than $870 million. But that number is still $50 million below what colleges need to maintain their current operations and services to students, according to the OCCA.
This budget gap could force colleges to make program cuts and pass the financial burden on to students and families in the form of rising tuition. That would ultimately threaten colleges鈥� mission to serve students and communities, said Portland Community College President Adrien Bennings in an emailed statement.
鈥淔ulfilling this mission requires adequate investment to sustain the programs and services that our students and employers depend on,鈥� said Bennings. 鈥淲ithout it, we risk undermining access to education and workforce training when it is needed most, especially in critical areas like housing construction, behavioral health and child care.鈥�
Leaders from the state鈥檚 seven public universities share a similar sentiment.
Gov. Kotek鈥檚 budget proposed nearly $1.08 billion to support university operations and research. That鈥檚 a slight increase from the last biennium, but with costs rising, the proposed funding level falls about $14 million short of what universities need to sustain their current operations, according to OCOP.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful to see the Governor hasn鈥檛 proposed deeper cuts to higher education in Oregon, but we鈥檙e acutely aware of the continued need for investment in Oregon鈥檚 public universities and its students,鈥� said Portland State University鈥檚 Vice President of Finance and Administration Andria Johnson in a statement.
Portland State, particularly, is relying on the state legislature for significant investment in public universities as it attempts to this school year.
OCOP said it will advocate for an additional $195 million in public university support from the state legislature next year.
It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will heed these calls. But it鈥檚 sure to be an uphill battle for higher education advocates as they鈥檙e set to compete with the state鈥檚 more visible crises and face a state legislature that has .
鈥淥regon is already far behind most other states when it comes to supporting public higher education,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淣ow is not the time to fall farther behind.鈥�