Analysis of the Senate and House operating budgets on Evergreen continues as hundreds of pages of legislation are examined for potential impacts on the College.

In addition, efforts are underway to understand the impact of the House Capital Budget proposal on the College. The Senate Capital Budget has yet to be released.

As the impact becomes clearer over the next few days updates will be provided.

But here is what we know to date.

Operating Budget – Governor, Senate and House

Changes to the Base Budget

The Governor’s proposed supplemental budget provided Evergreen with $444,000 for health benefits and salaries.  This was reduced in the House and Senate budgets to an increase of $4,000 in each budget. 

In addition, both Chambers provided funds for additional studies to be conducted by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. The Senate appropriates $50,000 for research support to the Quality Education Council. The House appropriates funds for three studies for a total appropriation of $125,000: (1) Examining substance abuse treatment, (2) A K-12 Study, and (3) Mental Health Assessments.

Finally, the House proposal reduces the College’s budget by $150,000 to transfer the Labor Education and Research Center from Evergreen to South Seattle Community College.

Reductions

The Governor, Senate, and House proposals all reduced state funding for Evergreen. The Governor reduces funding by $1.62 million, while the House reduces funding by $768,000 and assumes another $415,000 of additional cuts will achieved from the yet to be passed furlough bill (SB 6503). The Senate reduces state funding by $1.18 million and also assumes a savings of $426,000 from the yet to be passed furlough bill (SB 6503). Both provide flexibility to Evergreen to administer these reductions.

Fund Transfers

Both the Governor’s and the Senate’s proposed budgets shift Maintenance & Operation (M&O) funds from the Capital budget to the Operating budget. The Governor proposes a shift of $2.89 million and the House a shift of $3.247 million.  Although the House Budget doesn’t shift any expenditures to the capital program, their budget would sweep $5.9 million of our local TESC capital projects account fund balance into the State General Fund as a way to lessen overall state budget cuts.

Capital Budget – House

The House Capital budget reduces bond appropriations for the College’s Laboratory and Art Annex Building by $727,000.