Budget Talks Breakthrough: House Adds Funding
for WHEN and K-12
House and Senate conferees on the supplemental operating
budget (ESHB 2345) appeared to be expanding the proposal of a
"Washington Higher Education Network" to include
the K-12 public school system as well. Senate Democrats suggested
a K-20 backbone in conference committee last Friday. Yesterday,
House majority Republicans, which had supported just $5 million
in spending to connect the state's community colleges and
universities, were suggesting up to $34 million in spending with
nearly half of the funding coming from the bonds moneys in the
capital construction budget (SHB 2284) for a "K-20"
project. The WHEN project, originally a $40 million request to
link the state's community colleges and public four-year
institutions, appears to be among the last issues to be decided
as the House and Senate draw closer on a compromise budget and
possible adjournment of the Legislature Thursday.
Guidelines for development of the system are expected
to be written into Senate Bill 6705, which has passed each house
in different forms.
Senate proposes compromise on enrollments
Senate conference committee negotiators continued
to press for additional funding for additional students at public
colleges and universities. The House had substantially increased
its proposed funding of new enrollments at four-year institutions
to $11.39 million but the Senate had been holding firm to a $16.9
million figure. The Senate Sunday proposed a compromise at $13.659
million. The compromise proposal was expected to mean approximately
$3.9 million to the Washington State University system, though
exact funding by institution has not been determined.
Other recent developments in Olympia:
- The House concurred with Senate amendments March
2 on an 89-0 vote for 4SHB 2009, legislation which closes the
state Energy office and transfers 40 of its former employees to
WSU cooperative extension. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Lowry.
- The House concurred with Senate amendments to
2SHB 2293, the higher education technology fee bill, on an 89-8
vote. The bill, which WSU does not intend to utilize, would allow
an institution and its student body government to impose up to
$120 per year in an across-the-board fee to students. The measure
now goes to the governor.
- The Senate voted 39-0 on March 1 for ESHB 2637,
changing provisions relating to the Joint Center for Higher Education
in Spokane. It officially changes the name of the Spokane campus
to "Riverpoint," and changes requirements for representation
on the governing board.
- Senate Bill 5605, providing for student housing
where liquor and drug use is prohibited, has been delivered to
Gov. Mike Lowry from the Legislature. WSU complies with the bill,
offering housing that meets those requirements.
- The Legislature has passed Senate Bill 6174,
requiring the state Higher Education Coordinating Board to make
annual review of institutional budget requests.
- A bill authorizing funding to repair flood-damages
railroads passed the state Senate 45-0 on March 1. The issue
is also addressed in the supplemental Transportation Budget which
has passed the Legislature.
- WSU President Sam Smith and UW President Dick
McCormick, are to meet today in Olympia with other state officials
and regents to discuss concerns over the Department of Natural
Resources trust lands. Senate Bill 6778 has been holding on the
Senate floor calendar, available for a vote if majority Democrats
decide to pursue the issue. The bill would require the approval
of UW and WSU representatives on the state Board of Natural Resources
before deciding the fate of state trust lands through a federal
"Habitat Conservation Plan."
