Supplemental Budget Proposals May Be Unveiled
Wednesday
As legislators wade through a flood of bills in Olympia,
the most important single piece of legislation for higher education
is expected to surface Wednesday or Thursday; the supplemental
operating budget. In a relatively unusual move, budget proposals
by House Appropriations Chairman Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor, and the
Senate Ways and Means Chair Nita Rinehart, D-Seattle, are expected
to be released the same day. Some votes on the proposals
could also be taken next week. The election-year supplemental
budget is normally just a "tune-up" to the biennial
operating budget passed last session and many House members are
advocating no budget at all. But the outcome of the supplemental
budget process will have some far-reaching ramifications for higher
education in these areas:
- Additional Student Access:
Governor Mike Lowry has recommended funding about half of the
1,210 additional students requested by Washington State University
for the coming year. The Governor suggests 413 new students for
Pullman, 141 for the permanent funding of the Extended
Degree Program taught via computer and video tape to locations
around the state, 24 for Spokane and 10 for Tri-Cities.
There are indications the state Senate may be considering similar
funding levels. But there has been little indication of what
next week's recommendation will be from the House, though
leadership have long expressed a desire to provide additional
access this year.
- Learning Centers:
Enrollment funding will also drive the new WSU programs at six
pilot learning center sites around the state. Funding at or above
the Governor's level would be a boost to start-up of those
programs which are being established now in Tacoma, Colville,
Longview, Port Townsend, Wenatchee, and Yakima.
- The Washington Higher Education Network:
There are reports that the Senate will provide funding in both
operating and capital construction budgets to try to fund as much
of the $40 million telecommunications plan as possible. The plan
will link the four-year institutions and community colleges, expanding
the current WSU WHETS system, and reaching new locations like
Longview, Puyallup, Prosser, Bremerton, and Everett. Proponents
of WHEN have been more pessimistic about the House where there
are some reports that as little as $5 million may be initially
invested in the program.
- Pesticide and Wine Grape Research:
Legislative proponents in both houses are optimistic that $1.525
million to fund mandated agricultural research will be provided
in the House and Senate proposals this week. Failure to provide
the funding will dictate some cuts at WSU, the only cuts that
likely will have to be born by any higher education institution
in the supplemental budget. The Governor did not recommend funding.
- Transfer of the Washington State Energy Office:
More than $4 million in non-state funding could transfer to Washington
State University as the state Energy Office prepares to close
its doors. Legislation moving through the Legislature would transfer
about 40 research and extension employees to WSU. The transfer
was supported by the Governor.
- Salary Adjustments:
Gov. Mike Lowry made provisions for a .6 percent cost-of-living
increase for state employees plus $750,000 for competitive faculty
salaries. The House and Senate have been asked to consider these
proposals as well as a WSU request for salary equity for librarians,
counselors and other exempt staff.
- Matching Programs and Financial Aid:
The Governor also recommended $650,000 in new funding to WSU
for Distinguished Professorships and Graduate Fellowships. The
House & Senate are considering matching financial aid programs.
"Contracting Out" Sections Stripped
from Spokane Joint Center Bill
As expected, greater authority for higher education
institutions to contract out for services from private companies
has proved to not be a priority of the 1996 Legislature. The
Spokane Joint Center bill originally provided for additional authority
but was amended in committee to restrict it from resulting in
the loss of jobs to state employees. On the floor of the conservative
House, even that limited authority was deleted completely. Also
gone are provisions for additional bonding authority to build
a student union building in Spokane. The slimmed-down joint center
bill, now Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2637, officially
changes the name of the Spokane campuses to "Riverpoint"
allows the joint center to mediate disagreements among institutions
for degree programs, coordinate joint WSU, Gonzaga, Whitworth,
and Eastern Washington University academic programs, adds two
private institution representatives to the board, and allows the
graduate school dean to represent WSU on the joint center board.
The bill still allows the joint center to "contract out"
for services with other higher education institutions. The bill
passed the House this week and will soon be considered by Senate
committees.
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.
