Budget
Last year the Legislature had one of the most productive sessions in recent history. This year the Senate has crafted a fiscally and morally responsible supplemental budget that invests in opportunities for our families and our future. We follow the blueprint put forward by Gov. Chris Gregoire, but because of the recovering economy, we are able to save more in the pensions, health care and education accounts, and invest more in education and human service programs.

If you’re interested in what’s funded in the budget specifically for Spokane, please skip to the end of the newsletter.

In education, our budget:

• Funds Cabinet-level Early Learning Department ($1.55 million).
• Funds Alternative WASL assessments ($38.9 million).
• Help schools receive WASL results earlier in the year ($5.1 million).
• Provides one-time assistance to school districts for increased fuel prices ($8.5 million).
• Gives teachers one additional Learning Improvement Day for planning ($13.2 million).
• Provides remediation for students falling behind in math ($3.3 million).
• Enhances school breakfast program ($2 million).
• Adds 180 new enrollments at 4-year degrees and 125 enrollments at community and technical colleges ($3.2 million).
• Expands the job skills program ($1 million).

In health care, our budget:

• Better ensures those who need mental health treatment receive it ($46 million, $10.9 million of which is for Regional Support Network).
• Pays newly imposed co-pays for seniors on Medicare, Part D ($18.2 million).
• Expands the Basic Health Plan 5 percent, or 5,000 enrollments ($10.5 million).
• Funds state and local preparation and response plans for pandemic influenza, ($7 million).
• Increases nursing home repayment rates by an additional 2 percent ($6.2 million).
• Payment rates to home care agency workers at parity with individual providers ($5.5 million).
• Adds 5,700 enrollments added to the Immigrants Children’s Health Program, bringing total enrollment to 10,000 ($3.2 million).
• Helps community health clinics link the uninsured with medical providers ($3 million).

In human services, our budget:

• Reforms the WorkFirst program to help struggling families stop receiving public assistance and stat receiving a paycheck ($53.9 million).
• Provides direct home heating assistance to 14,000 more low-income families ($17 million).

In community protection, our budget:

• Funds the Senate’s comprehensive legislative package reforming our sex offenders law ($5.2 million).
• Enhances law enforcement, stiffens penalties and improves treatment for methamphetamines ($4.9 million).
• Invests in emergency management and preparedness ($5.7 million).

In natural resources, our budget:

• Funds reservoir construction in Columbia River Basin management plan, with new bond authority proposed in the capital budget ($10 million).
• Toxic clean-up efforts in the Puget Sound ($4.6 million) and $53 million from the capital budget to clean up other toxic and hazardous sites around the state, including the Spokane River.
• Eliminate day-use fees at state parks ($2.7 million).

For Spokane, our budget invests in:

• Figure skating: $100,000 for marketing for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships to Spokane in 2007 and an additional $500,000 in the next budget for the 2009 World Championships.
• Avista Stadium: Money for repairs to the Spokane Indians’ stadium.
• Spokane River: $1.25 million for cleaning up the river.
• Life science research: $1 million for research at WSU-Spokane.
• EWU autism center: $100,000.
• Restoring funds to children’s services in our community: $100,000.
• Spokane’s International Trade Alliance: $100,000.
• Food bank refrigeration projects: $465,000.

Note: This budget has passed the Senate. We still must negotiate with the House of Representatives and the governor on the final budget.

Stay tuned for next week’s update.

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