This evening the Washington Senate passed the conference operating and capital budgets for the 2011-13 biennium. 

2011-2103 Operating Budget
The Senate passed the operating buget with a vote of 34-13. The conference biennial budget addresses a $4.9  billion shortfall, making approximately $4.5 billion in policy level reductions. The budget reduces funding for higher education institutions by $535 million.  The Evergreen State College is reduced by $12.152 million and authorized to increase tuition by 14% per year for the biennium.

In addition the budget maintains the state need grant to offset budgeted tuition increases to students and reduces, but does not eliminate , state work study.

Bond Bill

With a vote of 46-1, the Senate passed legislation (HB 2020)  to provide $1.4 billion in new state general obligation bonds to support the 2011 Supplemental and 2011-13 Capital Budget. In addition the bill reduces 2011 Supplemental bond appropriations by $32 million.

Capital Budget

With a vote of 47-0, the Senate passed the 2011-13 capital budget (HB 1497). The  2011-13 Capital Budget authorizes $3.1 billion in new capital projects, of which $1.4 billion are financed with new state general obligation bonds.