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.