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State Budget Includes Massive Education Cuts - May 26, 2011

Washington State’s $5 billion budget shortfall relies on massive cuts to education including but not limited to the suspension of two education initiatives, 1.9% salary reductions for Certificated Instructional and Classified Staff, 3% reductions for Administrative Staff, and Eliminating Class Size Reduction funding.

Here are some excerpts from the Proposed 2011-13 Biennial Operating Budget and 2011 Supplemental / ESHB 1087 Striking Amendment (H2897.1) Summary dated May 24, 2011 regarding cuts specific to education:

·     Suspend Initiative 728 Student Achievement Program Allocations (-$860.7 million General Fund-State)

Initiative 728 allocations to school districts are suspended for the 2011-13 biennium. Initiative 728, approved by voters in 2000, allocates a per-student dollar amount to districts to be used for class size reduction, extended learning opportunities, early learning programs, or professional development. Per-student allocations would have been approximately $477 per student for the 2011-12 school year and $484 per student for the 2012-13 school year.

·     Suspend I-732 COLA (-$265.7 million General Fund-State)

The Initiative 732 cost-of-living adjustments are suspended for the 2011-13 biennium. Initiative 732 requires an annual cost-of-living increase for school employees based on the Seattle Consumer Price Index for the prior calendar year. These cost-of-living increases are estimated at 0.3 percent for the 2011-12 school year and 2.5 percent for the 2012-13 school year. Additionally, the statute requires a catch-up cost-of-living increase resulting from the Initiative 732 suspension during the 2009-11 biennium. This requirement is also suspended for the 2011-13 biennium.

·     1.9% Salary Reductions for Certificated Instructional & Classified Staff, and 3% Reductions for Administrative Staff (-$179.0 million General Fund-State)

Allocations to school districts for K-12 employees’ salaries are reduced by 1.9 percent for certificated instructional and classified staff and 3.0 percent for administrative staff in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.

To view the entire Proposed 2011-13 Biennial Operating Budget Report, click the link below:

http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2011/HOSummaryAlexander0406.pdf

You can also find more information on the following links:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015134533_budget25m.html

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Wash-budget-deal-includes-teacher-salary-cuts-1393496.php

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015138747_budgethighlights25.html

http://www.king5.com/community/blogs/education/Education-hit-hardest-in-budget-cuts-122612809.html

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