LEV STATEMENT on Initiative 1033
The League of Education Voters urges a NO vote on Initiative 1033 this November.
Initiative 1033 will stop education reform in its tracks, effectively prevent any new investments in schools, higher education or teacher compensation, and force further cuts to already reduced educational opportunities the state provides families and children.
How Will I-1033 Affect Washington’s Education?
Initiative 1033 is the latest Tim Eyman-sponsored ballot measure that proposes to limit local, county and state total revenue growth to inflation plus population growth. Revenue raised in binding public votes, including school levies and bonds, would be exempt.
Washington’s revenues were severely impacted by the worst recession in memory. State revenue for the biennium is expected to drop $9 billion. The Legislature was forced to cut K-12 by $1.8 billion and higher education by $618 million and make even deeper cuts to health care and public services. This measure would reset the base for the state budget, locking us in to these drastically reduced budget levels.
By locking us into today’s low revenues, and restricting revenue growth thereafter to inflation plus population, this measure would effectively prevent the state from making new investments in education required by HB 2261, the basic education reform legislation passed this session.
Finally, some costs borne by government increase faster than general population, like the number of students, and faster than inflation, like health care for teachers and fuel costs for school buses. This measure would force further budget cuts just to meet current obligations.
We agree with those who argue that in order for the state to fulfill its constitutional duty to fully fund basic education, the Legislature must reprioritize its spending and invest an increasing share of the state budget in education. But it’s hopelessly unrealistic to believe that the state can fully fund basic education by reducing all other services and responsibilities.
Under Initiative 1033, today would be the high water mark for our schools, colleges and universities - and the beginning of an era of ever-reduced service levels for Washington’s families and children. It’s no wonder that the one state in the union that adopted a similar measure, Colorado, has dropped to 49th and 48th lowest in higher education and K-12 investments.
For more information:
- No on I-1033 Website
- Fact Sheet
- Fact Sheet on Education
- FAQs
- Talking Points
- What Happened to Colorado?
- 10-minute Pitch Template
- Fiscal Impact Statement for Initiative 1033 (Office of Financial Management)
- LEV Statewide Conference Call on I-1033 (10/7/09)
