New tax already helping schools

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 4th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax is already making a difference for public school students. InterMountain Education Service District Superintendent Mark Mulvihill said that plus other funding is helping make up for the cuts to education made due to a lack of state funding.

“They’ve really invested in mental health,” he said. “I’m seeing a lot of expansion with school counselors.”

Mulvihill said he’s also seen creativity from school districts in braiding together CAT and other funding sources.

“I’m real excited to see some of the vocational training coming back into the schools that we had to cut during the lean years,” he said. “You know, the welding programs, the business programs, the technology, teaching kids to be college- and career-ready. We’re seeing that.”