Our Office of Planning and Budgeting has produced an excellent analysis of the operating budget package now being considered in Olympia, including how it has evolved since the Governor’s original proposal and some of the likely effects on the UW. Here are some key points from the document:
The Legislative Problem and Solution
The state faced a huge gap between revenues and spending just to maintain current services ($7 billion next biennium and $2 billion this biennium).
In order to solve this problem, the budget used $3 billion in federal relief. In addition, the budget cut over $3 billion in state spending. Fund transfers, state budget stabilization funds, and other resource and expenditure changes made up the remaining $3 billion.
How the UW was Affected in the Operating Budget
The UW was cut by over $214 million in the final legislative budget. This compares with the $116 million cut proposed by the Governor.
The Legislature had more federal relief to use than the Governor. The Legislative budget provided $25 million of one-time federal relief funding to the UW.
The budget reduced enrollments by 1,327, on average, annually.
The budget includes tuition increases of “no more than” 14% each year for resident undergraduates and tuition-setting authority for all other types of students (e.g. graduate and professional students).
In addition, reductions in health care and social service programs will have a direct negative impact on Harborview and UWMC.
How the Rest of Higher Education was Affected
Out of all higher education, the UW had the highest percentage cut at 12% (accounting for increased tuition resources).
Community and Technical Colleges took the lowest percentage cut at 8% (accounting for increased tuition resources).
The rest of public higher education four-year institutions were cut at 10-11%, accounting for increased tuition resources.
I encourage you to read the entire document, which can be found here.