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	PBA Forum Features New Portland Top Cop Appointed earlier this year, Portland Police Chief Mike Reese is one of the featured speakers at the 7:30 a.m., September 15 Portland Business Alliance breakfast forum. Kerry Tymchuk, CFM Principal, begins his second season as series moderator.
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	Blazers' Ball Bounces into PBA Court It may be time for college basketball’s March Madness, but the Portland Business Alliance will be fielding a team from the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers at its 7:30 a.m., March 17 breakfast forum.
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	Raising Your Voice, Part 4 In today’s high-tech world, it sometimes seems there are far fewer traditional speeches and far more “PowerPoint presentations.” Indeed, while we have not yet seen a State of the Union Address or a Presidential Inaugural speech featuring a PowerPoint, I suspect it won’t be long before we do. Comments (0)
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	Speaking With Consistent, Integrated Voices Integrating what you say throughout your organization has never been more important to your credibility and your reputation. Comments (0)
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	Economy, Pessimism and the General Election Oregon decision-makers maintain a “bearish” outlook about the direction of the state and Oregon’s economy. While there is a silver lining – nearly half expect their own business performance to improve during the next year – the pessimistic mood may impact the outcome of the November general election. Comments (0)
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Final Budget Decisions Take Shape

February 22, 2008
Author: CFM Staff

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Legislative budget-writers, admitting they are mostly shifting money from one pot to another, will approve what amounts to a stand-pat budget in the face of a potential recession that could shrink available tax revenue.

The bulk of spending decisions - for increased staffing at the state mental hospital and for child welfare and higher payment rates for adult foster care and residential care for seniors - depend on money reshuffled in the Department of Human Services budget.

Budget-writers also squeezed out slightly less than $500,000, which will be available in the last month of the current biennium, to hire 30 more state highway patrolmen. Lawmakers approved money for an additional 100 troopers during the 2007 regular session.

The Big Look task force, charged with recommending ways to update Oregon's pioneering land-use system, will be refunded with slightly less than $500,000. Additional money will be given to the Department of Land Conservation and Development to handle new claims under Measure 49, which was approved by voters last fall.

A little more than $1.5 million will go to OMSI to help with debt service on a state loan. Another funding approach to bail out OMSI was vetoed by Governor Kulongoski after the 2007 session.

In addition to a budget reconciliation bill, the Ways and Means Committee will advance a bonding measure, highlighted by authority for $200 million in revenue bonds to help finance a new basketball arena at the University of Oregon. Budget-writers asked UofO President David Frohnmayer for clearer assurances in case revenue projections for the new facility fall short of projections.

Bonding authority also will be granted to start a statewide telecommunications network and for projects at the Oregon Institute of Technology and Clatsop Community College.

Some bills sent to Ways and Means because of their fiscal impact won't emerge. Perhaps the highest profile casualty is the climate change bill championed by Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland. A coalition of business interests blocked approval of the bill, which would have required businesses to start an inventory heir greenhouse gas emissions.

There is one major tax expenditure bill that expands business energy tax credits for renewable energy manufacturers and includes $4 million in tax credits for affordable housing.