Brighter Oregon is a broad and growing statewide coalition of Oregon consumers, taxpayers, small and large businesses, associations and organizations who have come together to work with policy leaders on issues Oregonians care about such as better high school graduation rates, improved college completion rates, transportation investments, health care access and more efficient government spending.
Key elements to these reaching these objectives include:
- Continue the growth of Oregon’s economy. Growing the economy is the most reliable way to generate new revenue for public services.
- Balance the current budget by slowing the unsustainable growth in state spending, especially overhead costs. Our long-term budget deficits will only be fixed if lawmakers bring spending under control FIRST.
- Make sure state spending improves outcomes. For example, compared to other states, Oregon ranks 18th in per student K-12 education spending but 48th in graduation rates, near dead last. We need to spend our tax dollars more wisely to achieve better results for Oregon students.
- Consider new revenues only after the state’s unsustainable costs are under control and adjust taxes to provide new revenue for targeted investments that improve education and healthcare outcomes for Oregonians.