Cuts would hit students, the sick, disabled.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Here's a look at some of the budget reductions state agencies are considering to absorb a $482 million shortfall. The reductions would come on top of $565 million in program cuts already made since February.

Education, K-12 - $202 million. Would eliminate 2,850 teacher and 290 counselor positions. Class sizes would increase by three students in elementary and middle schools and by four students in high schools. Alternatively, the school year could be reduced by 14 days.

Department of Human Services - $121 million, triggering the loss of $100 million in federal matching funds.

Oregon Health Plan eligibility would be delayed for about 120,000 people. Costs would be shifted to pharmacists, hospitals and other service providers, and coverage would be canceled for 2,500 children and pregnant women and 8,935 elderly or disabled people. The state would seek federal permission to drop coverage for 52 medical conditions, including certain treatable cancers, dental problems, certain forms of diabetes and incontinence.

Long-term care and assistance for 19,368 elderly and disabled people would be eliminated. Oregon Project Independence and spousal pay would be eliminated for elderly or disabled living in their homes.

Mental health treatment slots for 124 children experiencing psychiatric crisis would be eliminated. Beds for 182 adults needing residential mental-health treatment would be eliminated. Group homes for 427 people with developmental disabilities would close.

Corrections - $41.4 million. Alcohol and drug treatment, work-based education, other programs not directly related to incarceration of inmates would be eliminated. Up to seven correctional facilities would be closed and 3,950 inmates would be released, with 943 employees laid off. Remaining inmates would be concentrated at prisons, with some being assigned to tents.

Four Oregon Youth Authority lockups would be closed, with the elimination of 250 "closed-custody" slots, 1,070 residential, shelter and foster placements and 625 slots for young people in local programs. Layoffs would total 298 positions.

Oregon University System - $39.3 million. Hundreds of class sections would be eliminated. Enrollment would be cut by 6,500 from the budgeted 117,200 students. Statewide agricultural and forestry services would be cut by 7 percent, and $2.9 million would be cut from engineering initiatives.

Community colleges - $20 million. This would mean reduced access for students, increased tuition and waiting lists for courses. Specific details were not furnished.

Oregon State Police - $8.8 million. Positions for 131 sworn officers and 52 professional staff would be eliminated. Highway patrols would drop from round-the-clock to 20 hours a day in heavily populated areas and 16 hours a day in rural areas. Staffing for investigating child abuse and computer crimes would be reduced and investigating the sexual exploitation of children would be eliminated. Forensic lab staffing would be reduced, and fish and wildlife enforcement would be curbed.