360
What’s next for
Washington’s budget?
(continued)
meeting expectations in challenging times
sen. ed murray, d-seattle
k-12, higher ed
Since this financial crisis began, funding for Washington’s four-year colleges has dropped from 60 percent of the core costs of instruction to 35
percent. We’ve increased K-12 class sizes and reduced teacher pay.
Many of Washington’s largest employers like Microsoft and Boeing
depend on highly-skilled college graduates. Soon, two-thirds of all new
jobs in Washington will require at least some education beyond high
school. How can we compete in the 21st century when we risk sending
our college funding levels back to the 1980s?
How can a sick person contribute to our recovery? So far, we’ve removed
60,000 Washingtonians from the Basic Health Plan, which was designed
for working people whose employers don’t offer health insurance.
In the recent special session, for example, the Senate Ways & Means
Committee heard from an Auburn man who went from living under a
bridge to being employed, not because of a jobs program but because
he got new teeth through state dental care. With his smile restored, he
regained the confidence to contribute to his community.
Today we face more cuts to dental care programs and everything else.
Over the past three years we’ve made more than $10 billion in service
cuts. For the first time in 40 years, the state has actually reduced spending for two biennial budgets in a row — even without the cuts we are
about to make.
looking ahead
New revenue isn’t the only way a budget can be taxing. When businesses
can’t find qualified employees because of a weakened education system,
or when professionals have to stay home because they can’t find enough
support for their disabled child or elderly parent, our economy and our
state pay a price.
This year we will look to improve service, to further cut costs, to reform
government — and yes, to raise revenue. If we focus on our shared needs
and our shared future, this session could be historic in a good way. It
could mark a turning point in our work to build a state where every
citizen can reach his or her aspirations.
And that is a story we would all be proud to tell in the years to come.
20 association of washington business