Legislators propose $175 million stimulus package

With Oregon facing its highest unemployment rate since 1976, state legislators unveiled a $175 million stimulus package Thursday to combat the current economic ills.

The package is geared towards funding maintenance projects to spur job creation, with Portland State slated to receive $29 million of the nearly $88 million allocated for higher education. Western Oregon is the only university set to receive more, at almost $32 million.

Portland State Director of Government Relations Jesse Cornett said the proposal calls for the two universities to receive a considerable amount more than their counterparts because they can most immediately assist the state.

Cornett said Portland State and Western Oregon plan to use the funds to complete smaller maintenance projects that will require construction workers, which represents an immediate source of job creation for the state.

“These are really wise investments in education both in the short and long terms,” Cornett said. “The one thing to keep in mind is this is money that was going to be spent sooner or later, or should have already been spent.”

Cornett said that Portland State plans to use the funds to make a number of improvements with an aim to “get campus back into shape.”

According to documents on the Oregon State Legislature Web site, Portland State is projected to use the additional funding to either undergo or complete seven projects around campus.

The largest amount of funds that has been set aside is for the second phase of the campus steam loop, which will receive nearly $17.5 million. The first phase of this project is currently being completed, and entails fixing the underground infrastructure campus wide to replace old, corroded pipes.

Other aspects of the projects include making accessibility upgrades, roofs repairs on several buildings and classroom improvements. Work on the projects is expected to begin as early as this March.

“These are obviously huge investments so the university can manage,” Cornett said.

 The next bond sale is scheduled for Feb. 10, which is the date when the proposal will be finalized and the money will be allocated.

Under the proposed package, higher education is being allocated the largest percentage of any state entity.

Community colleges ($52 million), Oregon Youth Authority ($9.2 million) and the Oregon Department of Corrections ($6.7 million) will also receive substantial allocations.