April 4, 2025—Settling the state’s 2025-27 biennial budgets is now Job One for the Legislature, as lawmakers begin quiet discussions to reconcile differences in proposed spending and raise revenue. The House and Senate proposals would have enormously different impacts on Evergreen.  

The Senate budget proposes a 1% across-the-board cut for higher education institutions.  It would authorize a one-time 8% tuition increase while reducing the Washington College Grant for some students. And although the proposal pays for negotiated compensation increases, it simultaneously assumes one unpaid furlough day per month for most employees over the next two years. The Senate proposal would provide funding for the Shelton Promise program, IT modernization, and student accessibility.   

The effect of the current Senate proposal on the college’s budget would be a net increase over the biennium of 1.3%.  

The House proposal avoids a larger tuition increase, reductions to the Washington College Grant, and employee furlough days. But it makes deeper cuts in higher education generally and much deeper cuts in Evergreen specifically.   

All baccalaureate institutions would be cut 2%.   

Evergreen would be singled out for an additional $9.8 million cut to bring our per-student appropriation to the average of Western Washington, Eastern Washington, and Central Washington universities. The House proposal also provides some funding for Evergreen for IT modernization and to improve student accessibility but phases out the Shelton Promise program.  

The net effect of the current House proposal would be a 28% percent cut to Evergreen’s biennial operating budget. A cut of that magnitude would have significant impacts on students, staff, faculty, and the future of the college.   

In the last few weeks, Evergreen has made a forceful case on why this cut would be unfair and deeply damaging to the college. We have engaged with House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, House Appropriations Chair Timm Ormsby, Senate Ways and Means Chair June Robinson, House higher education Chair Dave Paul, Rep. Beth Doglio, Rep. Lisa Parshley, Rep. Gerry Pollet, Rep. Mari Leavitt, Governor Ferguson’s higher education policy advisor Patricia Loera and House higher education and appropriations staffers on the cost-per-student issue and the hugely negative result of such a cut on the college.  

On March 25, Evergreen President John Carmichael testified in front of the House Appropriations Committee, highlighting the potential impact of the House cut and reminding legislators of Evergreen’s recent enrollment growth and our distinctive educational experience.  

A coalition of union leaders and higher education stakeholders convened at the Legislature on March 31 to lobby for higher education budgets. We were represented by folks from United Faculty of Evergreen, the Geoduck Student Union and Evergreen Government Relations. At a 22^nd Legislative District town hall held April 2, a group of alumni known as Evergreen Advocates called on local legislators Doglio, Parshley, and Senator Jessica Bateman to block the House cut. The legislators pledged to do everything possible to protect the college.  

Capital budget proposals rolled out on March 31, and both House and Senate versions look workable for Evergreen. Both provide resources to continue with current projects.  

Governor Bob Ferguson held his own budget press conference April 1, where he said he would not sign either operating budget proposal, because they rely too much on new taxes. With a little more than three weeks to go before the end of the legislative session, there is much ground to cover before a final budget is passed. Meanwhile, we will work with our allies throughout state government as we seek a fair outcome for Evergreen.