OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State House and Senate are proposing smaller budget cuts to Washington State University than what the governor is calling for.
Majority Democrats in Olympia have unveiled their operating budget plans. WSU lobbyists have issued their analysis of the proposals. The Senate is calling for a 1.4 million dollar cut in the WSU budget, while the House is calling for a 2.6 million dollar reduction.
Those budget cuts would be less than 1% of WSU’s state appropriation. Governor Bob Ferguson’s draft budget reduces WSU funding by over 5%. Both the House and Senate plans also neutralize the Democrat governor’s request that would increase WSU’s insurance premiums.
The proposed operating budgets in Olympia are expected to receive floor votes this week. That will kick off budget negotiations between the House and Senate. The Washington legislative session ends on March 12th.
