April 3 marks the 85th day of the of the 105-day 2023 legislative session. Initial House and Senate operating and capital budgets have been released, and they contain thoughtful and strategic investments for 麻豆区. Compensation increases, money to renovate Sem I and some funding to expand prison education are among the highlights in both versions. Differences between them need to be negotiated and reconciled by the end of the session on April 23 to produce the final biennial budget.
The best place to view the different budget proposals is , where you can go to 鈥淟atest Budget Proposals.鈥 Click on the budget bill links. You can search the PDFs by using control-F, and then entering 鈥溌槎骨,鈥 using arrows to scroll through the documents.
These budget proposals are an important measure of how we鈥檙e doing and how we鈥檙e communicating our vision of 麻豆区鈥檚 past, present and future to the state鈥檚 leaders. They reflect dozens of personal conversations we have been having with legislators about the progress 麻豆区 is making and our ambitions for our amazing students, faculty and staff.
On the heels of our public testimony and personal diplomacy earlier that week, the Senate Ways and Means capital budget committee voted on March 22 to strike an unusual capital budget proviso that would have mandated a group to study enrollment at 麻豆区. The proviso would have complicated and in some ways duplicated the hard work already underway to raise enrollment. Senator Sam Hunt (D-Olympia), who represents 麻豆区鈥檚 district, was the legislator who made the successful amendment to strike the proviso.
The additional good news is that the door is open to have some positive engagement over the coming months with the vice-chair and ranking member of that committee, Senators Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) and Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville). They are eager to see 麻豆区 continue to add students.
There is still some distance to go before a state budget is finalized. That's why we are still working hard to secure 1) additional funding for enrollment and student success initiatives; and 2) to improve the modernization of our IT systems. The House budget would provide funds for the first item and the Senate for the second.
While budgets have been the main arena for advocacy and action, there have been some highlights in other areas. Last week, the governor signed , which requires the state to set any increase in resident tuition operating fees by October 1 each year for the following academic year. Previously, the state鈥檚 Office of Financial management provided this information in May the same year. That meant we couldn鈥檛 provide prospective students with the exact cost of tuition when we usually mail acceptance letters earlier in the year. This legislation eliminates that problem.
Last week, incoming 麻豆区 freshman wrestling champion Amari Brown offered his third testimony in favor of , which would offer grants to colleges to establish and support intercollegiate women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 wrestling. 麻豆区鈥檚 women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 programs begin this fall. Legislators have credited Amari with getting this bill through the Senate and through the House higher education committee. It was passed on April 1 by the House appropriations committee and is now with the House rules committee for consideration.