Gov. Kate Brown's Proposed 2017-19 Budget Draws Criticism from Distillers—and Stand for Children

Gov. Kate Brown released her proposed budget for 2017-19 this week and swiftly met criticism from two vastly different interest groups.

Stand for Children, the education advocacy group that backed November's Measure 98, says Brown's budget proposal doesn't follow the will of voters, who overwhelmingly approved the career- and technical-education measure aimed at boosting Oregon's graduate rate. Brown's proposed budget sets aside only $139.4 million of the estimated $247 million backers anticipated would fund the programs.

"Oregonians just voted by a 2-1 margin to fix our high school graduation rate, which is the third lowest in the country," wrote Toya Fick, executive director of Stand for Children, in a statement. "Despite all of that, the governor's budget only goes halfway."

Brown's budget attempts to address a $1.7 billion budget shortfall.

An effort to raise revenue is also drawing criticism.

Brown wants to increase the per bottle surcharge on distilled spirits from 50 cents to $1. At its current level, the surcharge is expected to raise $36.5 million in the 2017-19 biennium.

The Distilled Spirits Council, a trade association in Washington, D.C., calls the proposed hike "punitive."

"Targeting distilled spirits sold in Oregon with another major tax increase hurts consumers, as well as the state's growing distilling community," says Adam Smith, vice president of the council.