Monthly Archives: March 2015

House Advances Operating Budget

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This evening the House Appropriations committee took executive action to advance a proposed biennial operating budget to the House floor.

The committee passed a substitute bill which makes several changes to investments in higher education.  The substitute reallocates funds for Evergreen by reducing the $750,000 appropriated for student success and degree completion appropriations by $300,000 and reallocating these funds to support the computer science program and meet student demand at the College.  The total investment for Evergreen remains $750,000.

The substitute also:

  • Corrects enrollment figures for the community and technical colleges and the University of Washington
  • Reduces appropriations for computer science and engineering enrollments at the University of Washington
  • Increases the amounts for the Family Medical Residency Network
  • Increases the appropriation for the State Need Grant by $1.85 million
  • Provides funds for the Latino Health Center at the University of Washington, and
  • Increases the amount of funding for computer science and engineering at the University of Washington and decreases funding for Washington State University’s medical school.

Finally the substitute bill allows the Department of Corrections to implement postsecondary education degree programs within funding provided in the appropriation for offender change and programming.  Evergreen supported similar policy legislation this session

The House’s proposed operating budget now moves to the floor for further consideration.

Senate Takes Public Testimony on Proposed Operating Budget

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This afternoon Evergreen testified before the Senate Ways & Means Committee on the proposed biennial operating budget.

The Senate’s proposed budget reduces resident undergraduate tuition to a percentage of the state average wage. The budget would reduce the research institutions by 18% in 2016 and 14% in 2017 and the comprehensive institutions and Evergreen by 12% in 2016 and 10% in 2017. The budget provides dollars to offset the loss revenue from a tuition reduction for institutions. The budget provides $5.659 million to Evergreen to offset this reduction.

The budget provides $22 million to the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program for the state’s match. The budget also suspends the Washington Scholars Program, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence, and Future Teachers Loan Repayment and Conditional Scholarship Program.

Finally the budget makes investments in other key areas including medical education; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); and compensation. The budget appropriates $3 million to increase the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded for STEM and $1.518 million for employee compensation.

Evergreen spoke to the investments for higher education.  In particular Evergreen shared its support for investments that will directly impact and support Evergreen students, including funding to support the tuition reduction policy and recognition for the need to make an investment in employee compensation.

The budget also makes an investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics  for Evergreen. These funds will be used to eliminate the current wait list for computer science at the College.

While Evergreen expressed support for funding for the College Bound Scholarship program and the Opportunity Scholarship, Evergreen expressed strong concern about the lack of investment for the State Need Grant.

Finally, Evergreen asked to work with policymakers regarding policy language in the budget and the impact of proposed LEAN efficiencies.

The Senate Ways & Means committee will take executive action on the budget tomorrow afternoon.

Washington Senate Releases Operating Budget

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This afternoon the Washington Senate released a proposed 2015-17 biennial operating budget.  The budget provides a $4.1 billion increase from current spending levels. The net increase represents policy level additions, savings and transfers. The budget leaves $487 million in the ending fund balance.

The budget makes several investments including funding for K-12 education ($1.3 billion), enhancements for higher education ($300 million), general government compensation increases ($113 million), expanded preschool and funding for the Early Start Act ($95 million),  and mental health related programs ($90 million).

The budget includes savings by maximizing the Hospital Safety net funding mechanism ($190 million), implementing additional LEAN management efforts ($49 million), and reducing state employee health care spousal coverage and lowering the retiree subsidy payment ($53 million).

Higher Education

The Senate’s proposed budget reduces resident undergraduate tuition to a percentage of the state average wage. The budget would reduce the research institutions by 18% in 2016 and 14% in 2017 and the comprehensive institutions and Evergreen by 12% in 2016 and 10% in 2017. The budget provides dollars to offset the loss revenue from a tuition reduction for institutions.

The budget provides $22 million to the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program for the state’s match. The budget also suspends the Washington Scholars Program, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence, and Future Teachers Loan Repayment and Conditional Scholarship Program.

Finally the budget makes investments in  other key areas:

  • Funding is provided to the Washington State University to establish a medical school in Spokane. Two and half million is appropriated to support the accreditation process and two and half million is appropriated to the University of Washington to support the continued education of medical students enrolled in the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) program located in Spokane. Finally $9.4 million is provided to the health professional loan program.
  • Funding is provided to increase the number of bachelor’s degrees in STEM for all six public baccalaureate institutions ($20 million).
  • Funding is provided to expand programs at WSU Everett, including software engineering, sustainable food systems, data analytics, and aviation management ($2.4 million).
  • Funding is provided for higher education compensation.  Each institution is provided with a $1,000 increase in salary each fiscal year of the biennium for full-time employees and proportionately less for part-time employees ($114 million).

Evergreen

The Senate’s budget reduces tuition for undergraduate, resident students for the biennium at Evergreen. The budget provides $5.659 million to Evergreen to offset the tuition reduction.

In addition the budget provides The Evergreen College $3 million to increase the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The budget provides for an increase in employee compensation ($506,000 FY2016 and $1.012 million FY2017).

Finally, the budget does not provide new funds for student support services.

Next Steps

The Senate Ways & Means Committee will continue the public hearing tomorrow, April 1 at 1:00 and take executive action on the bill later in the day.

Higher Education Committees Complete Policy Work

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Today marked the last meetings of the higher education policy committees.  Tomorrow, April 1 marks the deadline for policy bills to move to either a fiscal committee or the floor of the opposite chamber.

The Senate Higher Education committee finished its work last week. The House Higher Education completed its work this morning.

The committee advanced five bills including legislation to study cost drivers at public higher education institutions (SB 5133), align state residency requirements with federal requirements (SB 5355), establish a certified public accounting scholarship program (SB 5534), create a task force on sexual violence prevention (SB 5719), and add Everett Community College to the list of approved aerospace training/educational programs (SB 5746).

Policy bills advanced to a fiscal committee must move out of those committees by end of day on April 7.

House Capital Committee Advances Budget

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This morning the House Capital Committee met and took executive action to advance a proposed biennial capital budget to the House floor.

The committee passed a substitute bill which makes new appropriations for 2015-17 totaling ($3.77 billion). The majority of the increase is financed from state general bonds ($2.17 billion) and the remaining from other funds ($1.6 billion).  The increase authorizes  state agencies to enter into alternative financing contracts ($313 million). The substitute also authorizes reappropriations for uncompleted projects approved in the prior biennia ($2.9 billion).

No changes were made to Evergreen’s appropriation in the capital budget.

The House’s proposed capital budget now moves to the floor for further consideration.

Public Hearings on Budgets Continue, House Takes Testimony on Operating Biennial Budget

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This afternoon Evergreen testified before the House Appropriations Committee on the proposed  biennial operating budget.

The House’s proposed budget freezes tuition at current rates over the next biennium.  The budget provides dollars to offset the tuition freeze, providing funds to increase compensation and inflationary costs at institutions. The budget appropriates $2.954 million to Evergreen to offset the tuition freeze..

In addition the House increases funding for the State Need Grant by $53 million. The funds are
expected to serve approximately 24 percent of the currently 34,500 unserved students as well as increase private award amounts by 3.5% per year beginning in FY 2017. The budget also provides $60 million to provide the state’s match for the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program. The budget also suspends the Washington Scholars Program, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence, Community Match Program, Foster Care Endowment, and Future Teachers Loan Repayment and Conditional Scholarship Program.

Finally the budget makes investments in  three other key areas including medical education, computer science, and student support services. Evergreen would receive $750,000 to expand student advising and support services that lead to increased degree completion but no funds to eliminate the student wait list in computer science at Evergreen.

Evergreen spoke to the investments for higher education.  In particular Evergreen shared its support for several investments that will directly impact and support Evergreen students, including funding for the State Need Grant and Opportunity scholarship, funds to support a tuition freeze for resident, undergraduate students, and an investment in compensation for faculty and staff.

The budget also makes an investment in support services for students at Evergreen. These funds will allow Evergreen to continue to be a leader in four-year graduation rates, time to degree and credit efficiency for a diverse student population.

Evergreen expressed strong concern about the lack of support to reduce or eliminate the current wait list for computer science at the College.

The House Appropriations committee will take executive action on the budget tomorrow afternoon in Committee.

Week Begins with Early Morning Before Capital Committee

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This morning Evergreen testified in support of the House’s proposed biennial capital budget.

The House’s capital budget provides funding for several projects across higher education. This includes funding for three projects at Evergreen – Lecture Hall Renovation Construction, Lab I Basement Construction funding, and Seminar I Renovation Predesign.  The budget also provides authorization to purchase the Tacoma Campus property.

In addition the budget includes funds to support facilities preservation, minor works, and preventative facility maintenance and building system repairs.

Overall the budget supports Evergreen’s focus and commitment to responsible stewardship of our public facilities and infrastructure to meet current technological needs and demands, and to provide the needed facilities and infrastructure to provide a quality educational experience for students.

The House Capital Budget committee will take executive action on the budget tomorrow morning in Committee.

House Proposes Capital Budget

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On Friday, the Washington House released a proposed biennial capital budget for higher education. The House’s capital budget provides funding for several projects across higher education. This includes funding for three projects at Evergreen – Lecture Hall Renovation Construction, Lab I Basement Construction funding, and Seminar I Renovation Predesign.  The budget also provides authorization to purchase the Tacoma Campus property.

In addition the budget includes funds to support facilities preservation, minor works, and preventative facility maintenance and building system repairs.

Next Steps

The House Capital Budget Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed capital budget on Monday, March 30 with action scheduled to move the budget to the House floor on Tuesday morning.

House Releases Operating Budget

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Yesterday morning the Washington House released a proposed 2015-17 biennial operating budget.  The budget provides $2.4 billion in policy increases, responds to the $2.4 billion maintenance level shortfall and provides a $341 million ending funding balance.

The budget includes policy increases for increased costs of K-12 health benefits and a COLA ($356 million), enhancements to basic education ($661 million), funding for mental health, ($103 million), and funding for early learning and child care programs ($222 million).

For higher education the budget provides $257 million for financial aid and a tuition freeze and $253 million for state and higher education employee compensation and benefits.

To offset the $5.1 billion in policy increases, maintenance level funding costs, and the ending fund balance, the House proposes $2.6 billion in policy level reductions – the largest of which is modification of I-1351 ($2 billion) – revenue increases of $1.5 billion and additional moneys through fund transfers and reversions.

 Higher Education

The House’s proposed budget freezes tuition at current rates over the next biennium.  The budget provides dollars to offset the tuition freeze, providing funds to increase compensation and inflationary costs at institutions.

In addition the House increases funding for the State Need Grant by $53 million. The funds are
expected to serve approximately 24 percent of the currently 34,500 unserved students as well as increase private award amounts by 3.5% per year beginning in FY 2017. The budget also provides $60 million to provide the state’s match for the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program. The budget also suspends the Washington Scholars Program, Washington Award for Vocational Excellence, Community Match Program, Foster Care Endowment, and Future Teachers Loan Repayment and Conditional Scholarship Program.

Finally the budget makes investments in  other key areas:

  • Funding is provided to the Washington State University to establish a medical school in Spokane. Two and half million are appropriated to support the accreditation process. The remaining amount will support the education of medical students in the WSU medical school ($8 million).  In addition, $9.4 million is transferred from the Washington State University to the University of Washington to support the continued education of medical students enrolled in the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) program located in Spokane. Finally an additional $3 million is provided to the Family Medicine Residency Network located at the University of Washington to expand the number of residency slots in Washington.
  • Funding is provided to computer science. Eight million is provided to the University of Washington to expand computer science and engineering degrees, $2.2 million is provided to Washington State University to establish software engineering and data analytics programs at the University Center in Everett and an electrical engineering program in Bremerton, $910,000 is provided to Western Washington University to establish a computer and information systems security program at Olympic and Peninsula Colleges and $1 million is provided to Bellevue College to create a bachelors of science degree in computer science.
  • Funding is provided to  Western Washington University ($1.2 million), Eastern Washington University ($996,000), The Evergreen State College ($750,000) and Central Washington University ($715,000) to expand student advising and support services that lead to increased degree completion.
  • Funding is provided to support  the collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards reached between state employees and the Governor or Institutions of Higher Education and to state agencies and institutions of higher education for a general salary increase for employees not represented by a collective bargaining unit.

Evergreen

The House’s budget freezes tuition for undergraduate, resident students for the biennium at Evergreen. The budget provides $2.954 million to offset the tuition freeze, providing funding funds for increased compensation and inflationary costs that institutions.

In addition the budget provides The Evergreen College $750,000 in the second year of the biennium to expand student advising and support services that lead to increased degree completion.

Finally, the budget does not provide funds to eliminate the student backlog in computer science at Evergreen. Currently 50-75 students.

Revenue

The House budget is supported by $1.5 billion in proposed revenue. The proposed revenue package includes a 5% excise tax on capital gains profits. Revenues from this tax would be placed into a new “Student Investment Fund” to be used for K-12 and higher education investments.

For higher education the fund would support the House’s proposed investments for the State Need Grant, funding to support the tuition freeze, investments in computer science and engineering, funding for the WSU medical school and residencies, and investments in innovation including the student services support for the comprehensive institutions and Evergreen.

The package also reinstates the increase on the B&O service tax rate by 0.3% and increases the Small Business B&O Tax Credit for services businesses by nearly double. Finally the package taxes transactions from out-of-state online retailers and repeals and narrows seven tax exemptions.

Next Steps

The House Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed operating budget on Monday, March 30 with action scheduled to move the budget to the House floor on Tuesday afternoon.  The House Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the revenue proposal (HB 2224) on Tuesday morning.