OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY November 7, 2016 The Honorable Kate Brown Governor of Oregon State Capitol Salem, Oregon Dear Governor Brown, As legislators and colleagues, we understand the many demands on our state’s limited debt capacity. However, we believe next session presents unique opportunities for the State of Oregon to partner with universities to increase student access and promote economic development. The high-impact nature of many of these projects warrants reimagining traditional levels of bonding capacity designated for higher education. That is why we are requesting that you propose a budget for the 2017-19 biennium that includes an increase in the amount of capital construction capacity allocated to Oregon’s public universities. The return on investment in public university infrastructure extend far beyond simple brick and mortar. With investments in facilities, Oregonians see better access for low-income, minority, and first-generation students, higher rates of college completion, enhanced quality of teaching and learning, higher capacity for research and economic development activity, more energy efficient and sustainable campuses, and job creation in every corner of our state. Recent acts of philanthropy and opportunities to invest in growing areas of the state present a distinctive set of circumstances that merit investment above historic levels. Whether it is the opportunity to leverage 10:1 the recent gift that Phil and Penny Knight gave to the University of Oregon for applied scientific research, or the ability to increase access to education for Oregonians in Central Oregon, we believe increased investment in the upcoming budget will benefit Oregon students and the economy. Capitalizing on these unique opportunities should not come at the expense of others— instead universities should get a larger slice of the capital pie than has traditionally been served. Public universities are the stewards for approximately half of Oregon’s state-owned capital assets. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assert they should be allocated a proportionate amount of its debt capacity. As you weigh priorities and craft the allocation of Oregon’s bonding capacity in your recommended budget, we hope you will reflect the significant size and scope of our university facilities, the unique needs of higher education infrastructure, and the valuable return Oregon sees on its investments. Oregon State Capitol 900 Court St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY We appreciate your consideration of this moment for Oregon’s universities. Sincerely, Senator Lee Beyer Senator Chris Edwards Senator Floyd Prozanski Senator Arnie Roblan Senator Michael Dembrow Representative John Davis Representative Ann Lininger Representative Phil Barnhart Representative Val Hoyle Representative Dan Rayfield Representative John Huffman Representative Mark Johnson Representative Knute Buehler Representative Paul Holvey Representative John Lively Representative Mike McLane Representative Caddy McKeown Representative Paul Evans Oregon State Capitol 900 Court St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 .