As the price of a college degree has increased 50 percent, according to the 411 voters guide, for Oregon students and their families over the past eight years, one measure on the Oregon election ballet that could have helped students afford secondary education was not passed.

Measure 86, titled the “Oregon Fund for Post-Secondary Education,” would have amended the State Constitution and instituted a state fund to provide financial aide for students at universities and trade schools, if passed.

“We need funding. A lot of people are going into debt because they are getting finical aide, and even the final aide isn’t even enough to cover it,” said Taylor Steeves, a freshman at the University of Oregon.

The measure would have required the Oregon State Legislature to create a permanent Student Opportunity Fund that would provide financial aide for Oregonians seeking college education and career training. The measure would allow for the state to incur debt in order to support the fund.

Bonds would also be sold to raise capital for the fund. None of the money raised from the bonds would be given directly to students, as it would be placed in an endowment and the revenue generated from that would be handed out instead.

The Oregon Financial Estimate Committee estimated that Measure 86 would have had no financial impact on the state or local governments.

On the other hand, the state would be responsible for repaying the bonds and pledge to repay them no matter the cost, even with the risk of debt.

According to the Oregonian, “Oregon currently provides only about $250 a year of need-based financial aid per student enrolled in public universities and community colleges. That is 60 percent below the national average.”