The Legislature convened for the 2022 legislative session today, beginning a 60-day supplemental session in a fully remote setting. While the state Senate had previously planned to include some in-person activity, it reverted course last week with the rise of COVID-19 cases.
In testimony before the House Appropriations committee this afternoon, state budget director David Schumacher noted that this budget will be unlike previous supplemental budgets which have historically featured marginal changes in state spending. “We have a considerable amount of one time federal money that was not appropriated in the last budget, totaling $1.3 billion dollars.” A number of challenges face the state this session, he said, noting public health capacity, housing affordability, transportation infrastructure, and challenges presented by climate change.
Last month, the governor’s operating budget proposal included funding for WSU’s top priorities. $7.3 million was provided to allow a 3.25 percent compensation increase for classified staff, with $5.1 million remaining to fund compensation enhancements for faculty, exempt staff and graduate students.
The operating budget proposal provided $4.448 million in requested annual funding to establish academic programs in cybersecurity at WSU in Pullman, the Tri-Cities and Everett. It also fully funded WSU’s $341,000 ask to develop a one-year psychiatric pharmacy residency program, a program being developed collaboratively with colleagues at the University of Washington.
Find WSU’s remarks on the governor’s budget below: