03/30/2009

Associated Press

Highlights of some of the cuts suggested in the Senate Democrats' budget proposal:

_HIGHER EDUCATION: Senate Democrats propose a $485 million reduction in higher education, including a 14 percent reduction for the state's research and regional institutions. Community and technical colleges would see a 9 percent cut. They also authorize public four-year institutions to raise tuition a maximum of 7 percent a year; community and technical colleges are authorized to raise tuition by up to 5 percent each year. Raises for faculty and staff also are suspended.

_K-12 EDUCATION: Suspends almost all — 93 percent — of the money from the voter-approved initiative to ensure smaller class sizes, significantly more than the 24 percent Gov. Chris Gregoire suggested in her December budget proposal. Senate Democrats also suspend the entirety of another initiative for cost-of-living raises for teachers. Maintained is more than $12 billion for basic education services, like special education and transportation.

_STATE WORKERS: No raises for state workers, who will also see their health costs increase. Senate Democrats didn't allot enough money to keep up with medical inflation. Total savings to the state would be more than $140 million. Also, about 7,000 state workers are expected to lose their jobs, and others are likely to have to take furloughs.

_PUBLIC SAFETY: Senate Democrats propose closing McNeil Island Corrections Center, saving the state $16 million, and closing Green Hill School, a juvenile detention center near Chehalis, saving the state $14 million. Both would be closed July 2010. The Special Commitment Center would remain on McNeil Island. They also suggest eliminating the requirement to supervise misdemeanor criminals and low-risk felony offenders once they are released from prison, and deporting non-citizens who have property or drug offenses.

_HUMAN SERVICES: Senate Democrats restore the Adult Day Health program that Gregoire suggested discontinuing, but make reductions to the program, only covering in-home clients. The program serves about 1,900 elderly and adults with developmental disabilities. Also, the Yakima Valley School, which provides 24-hour care for 100 people with moderate to severe disabilities, would be closed, saving the state $3.3 million. In order to receive a cash stipend, those in the General Assistance-Unemployable program must accept drug and alcohol treatment if addiction is a factor.

_HEALTH CARE: Senate Democrats want to continue providing access to health care for low-income residents, but are calling for a 42 percent reduction for the state Basic Health Plan, which offers health care to people who are under 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The reduction would decrease those covered to about 60,000, saving the state more than $251 million, by limiting new enrollments. The Senate proposal restores medical coverage for those in the General Assistance-Unemployable program, a program that Gregoire had suggested eliminating. But the program is retained at only 80 percent of the current caseload, saving more than $59 million. Under the Senate proposal, beginning in July 2009, state coverage will be eliminated for three vaccines: HPV, rotavirus and meningococcal. Starting in July 2010, the state will no longer cover any vaccines for children not covered by Medicaid.

_STATE PARKS: Gregoire had suggested closing 13 state parks, and closing other state parks during off-peak winter months. Senate Democrats propose an "opt-out" donation of $5 when getting a new, or renewing, a car registration. The amount raised, an estimated $28 million, will help keep state parks open and also deal with maintenance needs.