By League of Education Voters Policy Team

The Washington state Senate has released its 2019-2021 biennial budget proposal. See how it compares with the House and Governor Inslee’s budget proposal:

 

Governor Proposed

All amounts are per biennium

House Proposed

All amounts are per biennium

Senate Proposed

All amounts are per biennium

Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) +$173 million

Expansion of ECEAP, childcare and ECEAP rate increases, Early Achievers

+$130 million

Expansion of ECEAP, childcare and ECEAP rate increases, Early Achievers

+$130 million

Expansion of ECEAP, childcare and ECEAP rate increases, Early Achievers

K-12

Local Education Levies

Locally generated property taxes that provide additional education funding to be used at district discretion. Not considered state funding.

Re-establishes previous levy system in place prior to 2019, increasing district levy authority by over $1 billion per year in local dollars. Levy lid varies by district Creates a levy system where districts can choose one of two levy lids which will result in an increase in district levy authority. Levy lid varies by district No Changes Made
Local Effort Assistance (LEA) +$214 million

Re-establishes prior LEA system directing additional funding to districts with lower property values

+$77 million

Re-establishes an LEA system similar to the previous version, but increases max LEA award for high-poverty districts

No Changes Made
Special Education +$145 million

Increases funding for Safety Net Program and adopts a tiered multiplier funding model

+$69 million

Increases the special education multiplier from 96.09% to 99.25%

+$156 million

Increases the special education multiplier from 96.09% to 100% and to support implementation of SB 5091 and SB 5532

Student Supports +$155 million

Begin the phase-in of increases in counselor, nurse, psychologist, and social worker staffing ratios at elementary and middle schools

Not Included Not Included
School Employee Health Benefits +$646 million

To increase the insurance funding rate for school employees

+$453 million

To increase the insurance funding rate for school employees

+$507 million

To increase the insurance funding rate for school employees

Student Mental Health +$7.5 million

Regional support structure for districts for student behavioral health and safety needs

+$5.4 million

Regional support structure for districts for student behavioral health and safety needs

+$2.9 million

Regional support structure for districts for student behavioral health and safety needs

Dual Language Supports +$2.7 million

Expand and strengthen the state’s dual language grant program and statewide supports

Not Included Not Included
Paraeducator Supports +$25 million

Provides a one-time four days of professional development for paraeducators for the 2019-20 school year

+$12 million

Provides two days of professional development per year for paraeducators starting in 2019-20 and every year after

+$23 million

Provides a one-time four days of professional development for paraeducators for the 2019- 20 school year

Highly Capable Not Included Not Included +$3.8 million

Highly capable screenings for students at least once between second and sixth grade

Institutional Education +$5.2 million

Enable students in institutional education to generate funding to support the fulfillment of their Individualized Education Program

+$2.2 million

Enable students in institutional education to generate funding to support the fulfillment of their Individualized Education Program

+$4.8 million

Enable students in institutional education to generate funding to support the fulfillment of their Individualized Education Program

Higher Education

State Need Grant +$100 million

To fully fund the State Need Grant (WA College Promise) by 2020-21

+$250 million

To fully fund the State Need Grant (WA College Grant) by 2020-21 and expand eligibility to families up to 100% of median family income. Also creates WA State Student Loan Program

+$98 million

To fully fund the State Need Grant (WA College Promise) by 2020-21

Washington Opportunity Scholarship +$85 million

To support students from low- and middle-income families pursuing degrees in high demand fields

+$12 million

To support students from low- and middle-income families pursuing degrees in high demand fields

+$9.3 million

To support students from low- and middle-income families pursuing degrees in high demand fields

Guided Pathways +$8 million

Provide support to community colleges to implement Guided Pathway models

+$60 million

To implement Guided Pathway models at all Community and technical college campuses

Not Included
Postsecondary Student Supports +$50 million

To expand academic and student support services for postsecondary institutions

Not Included Not Included
Higher Education Operating Costs +$64 million

To account for increased operating costs at institutions of higher education

+$45 million

To account for increased operating costs at institutions of higher education

+$43 million

To account for increased operating costs at institutions of higher education

Career Connected Learning +$33 million

Establish regional career connected learning networks

+$17 million

Establish a career connected learning competitive grant program

Not Included
Working Connections Child Care for Student Parents (WCCC) Not Included +$4 million

Allows full-time higher education students who are single parents and are pursuing a degree to not have to work to receive WCCC

Not Included

Revenue and Spending

Capital Budget +$1.1 billion

To support the School Construction Assistance Program in providing financial assistance to districts in the construction of schools

+$1.1 billion

To support the School Construction Assistance Program in providing financial assistance to districts in the construction of schools

+$1.1 billion

To support the School Construction Assistance Program in providing financial assistance to districts in the construction of schools

 

Total New Revenue

 

 

+$5 billion

 

 

+$1 billion

 

 

+$0.5 billion

 

 

Capital Gains

 

 

+2 billion

 

 

Expected revenues are not known at this time

 

 

Not Included

 

 

Business and Occupation Service Tax and other loophole closures

 

 

+$2.6 billion

 

 

Expected revenues are not known at this time

 

 

+$102 million

 

 

Real Estate Excise Tax

 

 

+$400 million

 

 

Expected revenues are not known at this time

 

 

+$421 million

 

 

2019-2021 Budget Proposal Side-By-Side (PDF)

Read our summary of the March 2019 Washington state revenue forecast

 

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