“JOB ONE” FOR THE LEGISLATURE = THE BUDGET

The final act for the Legislature is the 2025-27 biennial budget. Lawmakers are quietly discussing reconciling differences in spending and revenue. The House and Senate proposals would have enormously different impacts on Evergreen.

Senate Cuts:

• 1% across-the-board cut for higher education institutions.
• Authorizes a one-time 8% tuition increase.
• Reduces the Washington College Grant for some students.
• Assumes one unpaid furlough day per month for State employees for 2 years.

Senate adds:  Evergreen’s Shelton Promise program, IT modernization, and student accessibility.  Result of the Senate budget?  For the next 2 years, Evergreen gets a net increase of 1.3%.

House Cuts: 

• Net effect is a 28% percent cut to Evergreen’s budget. A cut of that magnitude would have significant impacts on students, staff, faculty, and the future of the college.
• Phases out Shelton Promise 

House Trade Off and Rational for House Cuts:

• 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.
• All four-year baccalaureate institutions would be cut 2%.
• But avoids a larger tuition increase.
• Less reductions to the Washington College Grant.
• Fewer employee furlough days.
• Evergreen would receive IT modernization and student accessibility funds

In the last few weeks, Evergreen has made a forceful case on why the House Budget would be unfair and deeply damaging to 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, the 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.

Do any of these elected officials represent you?  We have talked 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, and Rep. Mari Leavitt.  If you are in contact with them, please tell them you do NOT like the House Budget and would rather see the Senate Budget passed into law.

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 budget outcome for Evergreen.