Gov. Chris Gregoire this morning outlined a series of budget cut proposals that, if enacted, would reduce WSU’s state appropriation by another 15 percent. That’s on top of a 52 percent reduction over the past several years.
In a statement issued shortly after the release, WSU President Elson S. Floyd warned of deep impacts.
“The Governor’s proposed budget would have devastating consequences across our state with huge impacts on higher education, K-12 education, and health and human services,” he said. “This budget does not reflect core Washington values. At Washington State University, it would dramatically and directly impact our students. This disinvestment in our future generations undermines the future of Washington State. I will vigorously oppose these cuts at every level.”
The governor laid out a series of proposed cuts that exceed what is commonly referred to as the state’s $2 billion budget problem, highlighting specific cuts she’s tentatively chosen to include in the budget proposal she’ll announce next month. At the low end, the governor suggested higher education cuts of 10 percent, or $111 million. At the high end, the document suggests cuts of 20 percent, or $222 million.
But it also identifies a preferred cut of 15 percent, or $166 million. The document does not state how those cuts would be distributed within the higher education community. The document also identifies an $8 million cut to suspend the state’s Work Study program as one that is likely to be included in the governor’s budget.
The governor also laid out a scenario in which the State Need Grant would be eliminated to save $303 million and alternatives to that to make smaller cuts to it by reducing benefits in various ways. But she did not list these cuts among those tentatively chosen to be in her budget.
That proposal will be released shortly after the release of the next state revenue forecast, due out Nov. 17.