As
the clock ticked toward a July 1 government shutdown, the Legislature approved
a 2015-17 operating budget that won high praise for prioritizing higher
education. Marty Brown, SBCTC executive director, issued this statement:
“We
thank the Legislature and governor for prioritizing higher education in the
final state operating budget. This plan recognizes the direct link between
tuition levels and state funding for our colleges, and helps to rebuild
Washington’s role in providing affordable, outstanding higher education.” (Read the full
statement.)
Although
the Legislature has wrapped up most of its work – including operating,
transportation and capital budgets – lawmakers are still working overtime in a
third special session.
The
sticking point is funding for Initiative 1351, which requires K-12 class size
reductions. The operating budget includes class size reductions for grades K-3,
but does not reduce class sizes for the upper grades. The initiative is now
state law, so the Legislature either needs to fund the initiative to the tune
of about $2 billion, or suspend it through a two-thirds majority vote from both
houses.
This
third, 30-day special session ends July 27.
Final operating
budget
The
2015-17 operating budget, embodied in SB 6052, was signed into law
June 30. Below are highlights for the community and technical college system:
Tuition
and financial aid
·
The
operating fee portion of tuition is reduced 5 percent for all levels of
coursework beginning this fall. In fall 2016, the operating fee stays flat for
2-year degrees or shorter, but it decreases by an additional 15 percent for
upper level coursework (applied bachelor’s degrees). Beginning fall 2017, operating
fee increases cannot exceed the 14-year average percent increase in the median
hourly wage.
·
State
Need Grant funding was reduced to reflect lower tuition rates, as were the
award amounts for public-college students.
Compensation
·
The
policy is for all employees to receive a 3 percent salary increase in FY 2016
and 1.8 percent in FY 2017.
·
Allows
for the use of local funds to pay for faculty increments for the 2015-17 biennium
only.
Other
policy changes
·
Allied
Health: $425,000 annually for Seattle Colleges to operate the Allied Health
Programs at Seattle Central.
·
WATR
Center Aerospace: $580,000 in FY 2016 and another $420,000 in FY 2017 for
expansion of the fabrication composite wing incumbent worker training program.
·
Bellevue
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: $750,000 in one-time funding for
initial start-up costs and to develop a plan to offer a BS in computer science.
Final capital budget
The
2015-17 capital budget, embodied in HB 1115, was signed into law
June 30. However, the measure authorizing the sale of bonds to finance the
capital projects (ESHB 1166) still awaits action
in the state Senate.
Below
are highlights for the community and technical college system:
·
The
overall funding level for community and technical colleges is about 75 percent
of the requested level.
·
The
budget funds projects in priority order down through the design for an Advanced
Manufacturing Technologies building at Clover Park.
·
The
budget includes reductions of 4 percent to 11 percent in construction funding
for individual projects.
·
In
addition to sufficient reappropriations for all major projects, the legislative
budget includes limited reappropriations for minor work projects that were not
completed in the 2013-15 biennium.
·
The
budget includes authority to use certificates of participation (COPs) backed by
local funds as requested.
State Board, trustees
confirmed by the Senate
Carol Landa-McVicker was
appointed and Shaunta Hyde was
reappointed and both confirmed to the State Board for Community and Technical
Colleges. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney
was appointed to the State Board and awaits Senate confirmation.
Trustees
confirmed for their first term:
·
Teresita
Batayola, Seattle Colleges
·
Kathryn
Bennett, Skagit Valley College
·
Harry
Carthum, Grays Harbor College
·
Michael
Ciraulo, Clark College
·
Michael
Deller, Everett Community College
·
Rosalinda Mendoza, Yakima Valley Community
College
·
Stassney
Obregon, Bellevue College
·
Juanita
Richards, Big Bend Community College
·
Janice
Wigen, Community Colleges of Spokane
·
Doris
Wood,
Centralia College
·
Merisa
Heu-Weller; Bellevue College
·
Douglass
Jackson, Shoreline Community College
·
Megan
O’Bryan, Skagit Valley College
Trustees
reappointed and confirmed:
·
Daniel
Altmayer, Highline College
·
Sherry
Armijo, Columbia Basin College
·
Tim
Douglas, Whatcom Community College
·
Darcey
Fugman-Small, Walla Walla Community College
·
Anne
Hamilton, Lake Washington Institute of Technology
·
James
Lowery, Centralia College
·
Julie
Miller, Cascadia College
·
Tyler
Page,
Renton Technical College
·
Jacqueline
Rosenblatt, Pierce College District
·
Patricia
Whitefoot, Yakima Valley Community College
·
Linda
Cowan, Green River College
·
Lawrence
(Mike) Glenn, Peninsula College
Bills
The
following bills of significance were passed and delivered to the governor:
2ESSB 5954 reduces the
operating fee portion of tuition. Beginning in fall 2017, caps operating fee
increases to no more than the 14-year average percent increase in the state
median wage. (For details, see “final operating budget” above.) Awaits governor action.
HB
1706 grants permissive waivers for building fees and student and activity
fees for active duty military personnel. Signed into law.
HB
1961 streamlines state statutes for community and technical colleges.
Signed into law.
SB
5638 makes permanent, under law, an ongoing budget provision that allows
students to take as few as three credit hours per quarter (or semester
equivalent) to receive or renew State Need Grants. Signed into law.
ESSB
5355 modifies the definition of resident student to comply with federal
requirements established by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act
of 2014. Awaits governor action.
Coming up
The
third special session is still underway. Legislative News will be posted again
when significant action is taken.