One Last look – Ballot Measures 2016

Ballot Measures 2016

Ballot Measure 94 – (Amends Constitution: Eliminates mandatory retirement age for state judges.)

Ballot Measure 94 amends the Oregon Constitution to remove provisions establishing a mandatory retirement age for state judges.

Currently, a state judge must retire from judicial office at the end of the calendar year in which the judge attains the age of 75 years. The measure removes this requirement. The measure also removes the provision allowing the Legislative Assembly or the people to establish a statutory mandatory retirement age for state judges.

Ballot Measure 95 – (Amends Constitution: Allows investment in equities by public universities to reduce financial risk and increase benefits to benefit students)

In 2014, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 270, which granted public universities the authority to manage their finances, including the ability to invest in equities, an important financial and risk management tool. However, a provision in the Oregon Constitution may prevent universities from exercising the authority granted in Senate Bill 270. Ballot Measure 95 would ensure that public universities, as described in Senate Bill 270, could invest in equities. The public universities affected by this measure are Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, and Western Oregon University.

Ballot Measure 96 – (Amends Constitution: Dedicates 1.5% of lottery net proceeds to funding support services for Oregon veterans.)

Ballot Measure 96 would amend the Oregon Constitution to require that 1.5% of net proceeds from the State Lottery be used to provide services for the benefit of veterans.

Originally the Oregon Constitution dedicated net lottery proceeds to job creation and economic development. Subsequent initiatives have dedicated 15% of net proceeds from the State Lottery to a parks and natural resources fund, which is used to create and maintain parks and natural resources, and 18% to an education stability fund, which is used to supplement public education funding.

The remaining 67% of net lottery proceeds is currently allocated by the Legislature, including specific amounts for lottery backed bonds, county economic development, college athletics, gambling addiction treatment, and other legislative priorities associated with job creation and economic development.

By creating a new 1.5% dedication, the measure would reduce the undedicated portion of net lottery proceeds to 65.5%. Dedicating this percentage to veterans’ services may increase Oregon’s eligibility for available federal matching funds.

Ballot Measure 97 – (Increases corporate minimum tax when sales exceed $25 million; funds education, healthcare, senior services.)

Measure 97 increases the corporate minimum tax for the largest corporations doing business in Oregon — C Corporations with more than $25 million in Oregon sales. By law the measure dedicates new revenue to schools, health care and senior services.

Ballot Measure 98 – (Requires state funding for dropout prevention, career and college readiness programs in Oregon high schools)

Ballot Measure 98 restores and expands vocational and career technical education, college prep and Advanced Placement classes in all high schools.

Ballot Measure 99 – (Creates “Outdoor School Education Fund,” continuously funded through the Lottery, to provide outdoor school programs statewide.)

Because of tight school budgets, currently only about half of Oregon’s students get to experience Outdoor School. And even then, sometimes only for a day or two rather than the full week experience that research shows is most effective.

Ballot Measure 100 – (Prohibits purchase or sales of parts or products from certain wildlife species; exceptions; civil penalties.)