Governor
Olympia
Update No 2 for the 2006 Session • December 16, 2005
From: Larry Ganders, Assistant to the President
Governor’s
Budget Released Tuesday:
WSU proposes
technology
requests for 2006 session.
Gov. Christine Gregoire
is expected to make public her proposed 2006 supplemental operating budget
request on Tuesday. The governor and
her staff have indicated that the current $1.4 billion state surplus may be
shaky and that they will propose a budget next week that will use half of the
funding to build a reserve. Her budget is expected to also address unfunded
pension increases, unanticipated energy costs, DSHS caseloads, and unexpected
K-12 enrollment. At the top of WSU’s legislative agenda is the $63 million WSU
Biotechnology/Life Sciences Building, which does not require state construction
dollars. On the operating side, WSU has prepared modest decision packages, some
of which address the governor’s areas of emphasis. For instance, WSU has sought
funding to offset increased energy costs and has helped provide information to
the governor in the area of fuels that can be made from Washington-grown
products. Here are some other items put forward by WSU for consideration by the
governor and the Legislature:
Joint UW-WSU Technology
Transfer Request The
University of Washington and WSU proposed a coordinated technology transfer
program that would identify and facilitate the movement of new research
discoveries into the private sector where they can be developed by private
businesses and assist in economic development. With new funding, UW and WSU
will each hire staff to work within selected academic programs to link with
industrial needs. Moneys are requested to support research that is too applied for academic funding yet not
developed enough to attract industry investment. Another key component of the
request is permanent staffing for the UW-WSU “Policy Consensus Center.” The
center, already with offices at UW and WSU, is overseen by an advisory board
chaired by William Ruckelshaus. The Consensus center attempts to provide a
neutral forum for discussion of issues and seeks to marshal resources and
research that could lead to collaborative problem-solving by interests that can
not otherwise find agreement. The total WSU share of these requests for
technology transfer and the Consensus Center is $450,000.
Weathernet Operation
Dollars. The 2005 Legislature
appropriated funds for WSU upgrade and expand a system of weather-data stations
from 65 to 135 sites throughout the state. However, no funds were appropriated
for the meteorologist and technicians to actually operate this new equipment.
WSU has requested $800,000 in supplemental funds to hire the necessary
personnel. This updated system will serve a wide array of family farm
operations, from the cranberry growers in Long Beach to the fruit farms in
Skagit Valley, to wheat farmers in the Palouse, to potato growers in the
Columbia Basin, diversified farmers in the Yakima Valley, fruit growers in the
Okanogan Valley, grape producers in Walla Walla, dairy producers on both sides
of the mountains, etc. While 1,000 entities actually subscribe to the service,
the information flows to many thousands more. In addition to the agricultural
applications, the data is also used by a variety of other agencies and companies
including the National Weather Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and
state agencies. Farmers use the information for irrigation scheduling and frost
prediction to protect crops. Environmental data is used by fire services to
judge wind conditions, and for prediction of airborne particulates.
Biologically Intensive
and Organic Agriculture Program Some
legislators urged WSU to put forward a formal request on “BioAg,” and secure the
first state appropriation for the “WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and
Natural Resources.” Created by the Legislature years ago - but never explicitly
funded - this academic center works on biological approaches to farming with
natural systems. WSU is requesting $800,000 total in this area. The request
includes $500,000 per year in annual competitive grants for expanded research
that could come in such areas as production of renewable fuels or “bio-fuels,”
no-till farming or direct seeding using green manure as fertilizers, better
management of pasture lands, compost tea for disease suppression and plant
growth, microbial insecticides, and evaluation of mechanical cultivators for
weed control. It also includes funding for extension educators to work with
producers, businesses and communities. Also included is $123,000 per
year for public demonstration and pilot sites.
For
more information call: Larry Ganders, Assistant to the President,
360-956-2165 From
WSU campuses, dial 8-2165.
