The state House of Representatives voted its proposed operating and capital budgets off the chamber floor this afternoon. The House proposed operating budget passed with a vote of 53-44 and the House proposed capital budget passed with a vote of 92-4.
The operating proposal funds WSU’s top legislative request for $750,000, $500,000 of which would be ongoing funding annually, to provide state matching funds for the university’s recent Federal Aviation Administration designation as a Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuel and the Environment.
The matching funds would leverage federal and private research funds for the center, which WSU will lead along with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A total of 14 other universities across the United States will collaborate in the center’s research and more than 50 public and private stakeholders will help identify the needs that will shape the center’s research priorities.
Not funded in the House proposed budgets are two additional priority requests for WSU. The university has sought $1 million in the operating budget to add academic programs in software engineering and agricultural and food safety at the University Center of North Puget Sound. WSU is also seeking $5.3 million in the capital budget for predesign funding for a new facility to house the Washington Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory.
The state Senate voted its proposed budgets off the Senate floor last week.
Budget leaders from the House and the Senate will now work to reconcile their proposals with Governor Jay Inslee’s proposal and negotiate final compromises.
Today is day 51 of the 60 day legislative session, which is scheduled to adjourn next Thursday, March 13.