It’s all about the budget

December 13, 2024
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and Evergreen President John Carmichael talked about Evergreen’s enrollment growth, budget requests and the overall budget climate when they met in Tacoma on October 15.
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and Evergreen President John Carmichael talked about Evergreen’s enrollment growth, budget requests and the overall budget climate when they met in Tacoma on October 15.

As the outlines of the state’s budget deficit appear more firmly in view, legislators gathered in Olympia from December 9 to 13 to convene committees and consider their top challenge for the 2025 session. Slowing state revenue growth, inflation, the end of federal COVID-era support and a rise in the number of Washingtonians needing services have created a $12 billion shortfall. How will the Legislature meet its obligation to pass a balanced biennial operating budget next year?

Against this backdrop, Evergreen President John Carmichael and Government Relations Director Sandy Kaiser have met with dozens of legislators over the last few months. Making the case for additional funds for compensation increases for faculty and staff, the Shelton Promise scholarship program, prison education and other priorities, John and Sandy have been reminding legislators about Evergreen’s enrollment growth, educational service to students and the strong impact of our alumni throughout the state.

John and Sandy have also been listening carefully to key budget writers such as Senator June Robinson (D-Everett) and Representative Steve Bergquist (D-Renton), who have made it clear that cuts to state agencies and higher education are under consideration. These lawmakers predict it will take a combination of cuts and new revenue for the state to be able to meet its targets.

Governor Inslee will issue his budget proposal next week, which will be an early indicator of where Washington’s majority party sees the budget discussion beginning in January.  This will be Governor Inslee’s last budget, and it’s not clear if Governor-elect Ferguson will submit his own version.

Evergreen currently receives about 85 percent of its operating funds from the state. This is $83.77 million for the 2024-2025 biennium. The state’s total higher education operating budget for the biennium is $6.04 billion. Evergreen receives about 1.4 percent of that total.

For more details on the state budget, go here. For a look at a 2025 budget preview prepared by House Appropriations committee staff, download the PDF here.

The legislative session begins on January 13, 2025.