Yesterday, Gov. Gregoire released a second budget proposal (referred in Olympia as a Book II budget) that she believes “better reflects Washington values and principles.” This is a revision to the budget she released in December that she immediately announced she could not support. In a response last year, we challenged the governor to invest in what works and not abandon our most vulnerable children and families.
LEV believes the governor’s revised budget is a good start, which reverses devastating cuts to health care and human services and the following education programs that have a demonstrated track record for boosting student achievement:
- State financial aid for low- and middle-income students;
- Early childhood education programs;
- All-day kindergarten; and
- Gifted and talented education.
In addition, we support the governor restoring the cuts to levy equalization and providing additional support for the most property-poor districts. We are disappointed the governor did not include funding to lower class sizes in kindergarten through fourth grade and for Work Study.
To restore these cuts, the governor proposes $780 million in new revenue through a combination of new taxes, closing loopholes and money from the federal government. The governor also restores cuts using $830 million from other state funds. More than $950 million is cut to close the remaining portion of the $2.6 billion budget shortfall.
Raising revenue is never an easy option. However, we believe we must protect those who depend on us the most-children, the poor and disabled, and the elderly. This is not the time to reduce educational opportunities that Washingtonians need to secure family-wage jobs nor put out-of-work families on the street.
This latest budget approach is an improvement and better represents the interests of our state’s children, families and schools. As budget negotiations continue this session, LEV will fight for the targeted programs that directly impact student achievement. And we will hold lawmakers accountable for implementing education reform and for pursuing federal grants that will accelerate school improvement.
