February 16, 2024–With the latest state revenue forecast in hand, on February 15 legislators began to roll out their adjusted operating and capital budget bills. Each chamber will present their own vision for this spending, which is intended to adjust the two-year state budget adopted in the 2023 legislative session. 

It’s a period of suspense for legislators and state institutions like The Evergreen State College. After the dust settles, much of the next three weeks will be spent wrangling over budget details. While the state’s economic fundamentals are currently sound, legislative leaders are concerned that two initiatives to repeal the capital gains tax and the Climate Commitment Act may blow a huge hole in the budget if voters pass them in November. 

Lawmakers must pass their final budget in advance of March 7, when the legislature will adjourn until 2025. 

For Evergreen, there are reasons for optimism. The college’s proposal to help nearby Shelton School District graduates attend Evergreen tuition-free, and our request for additional funding to hire a full-time benefits navigator are included in current House and Senate operating bills. The college’s additional requests, which include funding for maintenance and a part-time HR position to assist in employee bargaining, are not currently included in those bills. We are still making the case, in meetings with key legislators and staff.

Evergreen’s original capital budget request to upgrade the windows at the Lord Mansion did not make the governor’s capital budget, released December 12. However, a new Evergreen proposal to upgrade and bring back into service two moth-balled dorm buildings, B and D, is now under consideration by the House Capital Budget Committee. This is a $4.4 million request.

Beyond budget, a few higher education bills cleared a key deadline February 13, while others were not ultimately able to clear the necessary committees. Bills that would have granted all Washington students free community college did not proceed, nor did a bill that would have allowed all student workers at public colleges throughout Washington to unionize.

Bills still in play include SSB 5953, which would make it easier for incarcerated students to access federal financial aid, and HB 2214, which would make it easier for students currently receiving state food aid and health insurance to also receive the Washington College Grant.