John — Tina’s mission as Governor will always be to deliver results and move the state forward, so that every Oregonian, no matter their race or zip code, can have the same opportunities.
That means building more housing and reducing homelessness, improving access to mental health and addiction services, and ensuring that Oregon’s children are better served by the state.
That’s why Tina released detailed budget recommendations for the Oregon State Legislature, a roadmap that will put the state on a path to solving our most pressing challenges.
Here’s what you need to know:
On Housing and Homelessness:
- Governor Kotek’s plan involves investing in strategies to help reduce unsheltered homelessness, rehouse Oregonians, build and preserve more affordable housing, and increase homeownership. This means investing millions of dollars in getting Oregonians living in tents off the streets and into shelters and permanent, supportive housing. Along with providing incentives to build and grow affordable housing throughout the state so that no Oregonian has to find themselves homeless in the future.
On Mental Health and Addiction Services:
- The plan will disrupt the harmful and expensive homelessness-jail-hospital pipeline, decrease preventable deaths from substance use and mental health needs, and stabilize the behavioral health workforce. To help accomplish all this, the budget will make continued investments in substance use treatment and behavioral health provider incentives, as well as increase funds for mental health residential capacity and improving Oregon’s crisis prevention system.
On Early Learning and K-12 Education
- The plan ensures Oregon children are better served by K-12 schools — focusing on improving student literacy and stabilizing early childhood services. This involves increasing the State School Fund and fully funding the High School Success program to improve graduation rates and give students the tools to be career and college ready. The plan makes additional investments to increase literacy rates, expand summer enrichment programs, and enhance early learning programs, so that all students, no matter their background, start their education on the right foot.
It’s a plan we’re proud of, John. It rises to the challenges facing Oregon by getting back to the basics, working in collaboration with communities, making smart investments where necessary, and staying the course where prudent.
The next step in making this budget a reality is to show the Oregon Legislature that the people support it and feel empowered by its vision. Can you take a moment to add your name and show that the public is behind Tina’s plan and her mission to create a brighter future for Oregon?
Thank you for raising your voice to make Oregon a better place to live, work and thrive.
— Team Tina