Olympia Updates

House and Senate budget writers unveiled supplemental operating and capital budgets for higher education Wednesday, identifying similar issues but addressing them at substantially different levels. Senate Ways and Means Chair, Nita Rinehart, has introduced Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6251 which she hopes to bring to a vote this week. It would boost WSU's base budget by $7.7 million. House Appropriations Chairman, Tom Huff, has unveiled House Bill 2345, the proposed House version of the same budget, which would cut funding to state government $45 million overall, yet allow the WSU budget to increase $1.246 million. House and Senate committees have already began considering the legislation Wednesday which could lead to floor votes Friday or Monday. Passage of the budgets by each respective house is expected to quickly set up a conference committee to try to address the substantial differences throughout state government.

Rinehart Enrollment Plan Boosts WSU By 1,235 students; Huff Adds 109 Students Sen. Rinehart, D-Seattle, proposed $6.248 million toward the WSU Budget request to increase access to higher education through technology and partnerships. Included in the figure are 1,235 new students for WSU and $1,448 million or $80/FTE to purchase new technology. Rep. Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor, countered with a proposed House supplemental operating budget that pledges to hold state spending $45 million below current levels. Huff was able to make some improvements in higher education including 109 new student FTEs or funding of $418,000. The Rinehart bill allow WSU's 1997 budgeted enrollment to increase from 18,285 to 19,520 students.

Rinehart Proposes $34.7 Million Washington Higher Education Network; Huff Offers $5 million Both the Rinehart and Huff proposals would begin work on the Washington Higher Education Network. Some have expressed optimism that the entire proposed WHEN proposal to unite the all six higher education institutions can go forward this year under the Senate plan. The House takes a more cautious approach, phasing the project.

Cooperative Library Project Funded In Both Budgets A proposal to link electronically the card catalog systems of the six four-year institutions was provided in both budgets. For WSU, the policy decision means the addition of $392,000 in the House, which is the level recommended by Gov. Mike Lowry, and $450,000 by the Senate which is the level requested by WSU.

Both Budgets Fund Pesticide and Wine Grape Research Both House and Senate versions provide $1.525 million for pesticide and wine grape research. Failure to fund this program would result in a budget cut for the university.

Financial Aid Senator Rinehart recommended $32.5 million for additional financial aid, establishing a new Washington State College Access Loan Program. Rep. Huff provided $4.6 million in new funding for state work study, Education Opportunity Grant, National Guard conditional scholarship, citizen scholarship and student scholarship.

Salary Increases Appear Dead For the 1996 Legislative Session; No funding for Professorships

• Neither the Huff or Rinehart budgets provided for the $1.236 million requested by Washington State University for salary increases for librarians, counselors and professionals.
• Neither the Huff or Rinehart budgets provided for the $750,000 recommended by the governor for a salary pool to retain top faculty members being recruited by other institutions.
• The governor's proposal for funding for distinguished professorships ($750,000 to WSU) and graduate fellowships ($100,000 to WSU) were not provided in either budget.

This update is shared by broadcast fax and electronic mail to friends of Washington State University as state government developments occur. Contact Karen Fischer, WSU State-wide Affairs, 509/335-6665. Larry Ganders is at 360/438-7552; Fax: 360/438-8104. Internet address is ganders@wsunix.wsu.edu. Visit our web page at www.wsu.edu/IR/wsulegis/olympia.html.