A descriptive study of the Oregon community college budget processes during the 2001--2003 Oregon Legislative session

From 1990 to 2000, Oregon community colleges experienced a shift in their revenue sources from primarily local taxes to primarily state funding. Additionally during this time Oregon approved term limits for state officials and legislators. In preparation for the 2001--2003 biennial Legislative session, the community colleges pursued new approaches to securing an increase in state funding, which included a single funding request, the first pledge of unity among the community colleges and a trust-building process with the governor.; This study followed the budget development processes for Oregon community colleges in preparation for and during the 2001--2003 legislative session. Interviews, observations and primary source materials were used by the researcher to describe the budget processes from the initial community college discussions through the enactment of the community college budget by the legislature.; The governor was found to have the most significant influence in providing for the community college request for increased funding. The legislature was found to have less influence in providing increased revenue for community colleges. The governor, as part of his state budget, forwarded a request to the legislature for a {dollar}45 million increase for community colleges. The unity of community colleges in supporting one proposal during the session was found to have several positive impacts. Although community colleges received an increase in state funding, the funding formula for community colleges resulted in differentiated funding for each of the 17 Oregon community colleges.; An epilogue provides a chronology of significant changes in state revenues, of special legislative sessions and of changes in community college funding after the enactment of the 2001--2003 community college budget.