The Measure 5 Show
Exhibition Information
A site-specific installation in the Main Gallery of the Museum reflected the potentially devastating effects of Oregon’s Ballot Measure 5 on the arts and education in Southern Oregon.
Exhibition Statement
In November of 1990 the voters of Oregon approved Ballot Measure 5 to limit (and radically reduce over five years) property tax rates for the Oregon public school system. The only other source of revenue for public schools is derived from state income tax. As a result, the funding for public schools has shifted from a reliance on local property taxes to a predominantly state funded system. Local control and determination of school funding has been replaced by a state-wide averaging of all school budgets on per pupil formula basis.
With no state sales tax or other alternative sources of revenue, a tremendous strain has been created on all other public agencies throughout the state. The state board of Higher Education, and specifically Southern Oregon State College, were radically streamlining their structures. The academic administration on campus was in the process of reducing the numbers of schools (from 10 to 5) and departments (26 to 20) thereby lowering administrative costs.
Students are all too aware of the dramatic increase in tuition costs in recent years. Students from out-of-state represent another source of revenue since they pay even higher tuition. However, they displace Oregon residents, resulting in a state college system that is no longer as responsive to the educational needs of its own citizenry.
During this critical period of transition, many institutions and agencies were forced to cut back on their services, until such time as alternative sources of funding can be located. More than ever it is a time when private citizens can make a dramatic difference by supporting (both monetarily and volunteering) those services which they believe contribute to the quality of their lives.
Exhibition programming in this museum is directly affected by budget constraints. Private support for the museum can offset this loss and ensure that future programming will be available to all who value the museum as an important cultural resource in the Rogue Valley.
