May 2023 Revenue Forecast Signals Incredible Opportunity to Make Long-Overdue Investments in State Workforce and Infrastructure
The release of the latest statewide quarterly revenue forecast shows a nearly $2 billion increase in state revenue, creating a golden opportunity for Oregon to make some much-needed investments to keep our state moving forward.
Oregon state workers have been in a staffing crisis for too long, and this positive forecast means that we can finally fill the thousands of vacancies statewide by increasing pay to a standard that will retain current employees and attract the best and brightest to work for our great state.
We applaud Governor Kotek for holding firm on her commitment to provide funding for behavioral healthcare and affordable housing, and we also hope to see significant funding to support the child care crisis that is impacting Oregon’s working families.
This report shows that the economic forecast for this quarter and the economic future of Oregon on the whole, is stable and will continue to trend upward. Now is not the time to pad Oregon’s Rainy Day Fund.
This is an opportunity to solve decades-long issues in our state and make Oregon a better place to live and work.
Oregon AFSCME believes in economic and social justice for all Oregon workers and their families. Our mission is to empower and unite workers to create change in their workplaces and communities. Oregon AFSCME represents over 35,000 workers in the public sector. Our members work for the State of Oregon in addition to counties, municipalities and behavioral health nonprofits across Oregon as well as self-employed child care providers. For more information visit: www.OregonAFSCME.org.
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