Senate budget takes stab at paying for education

SEATTLE — A budget proposal from a coalition of state senators would make about a $1 billion down payment toward a Supreme Court order to put more money into the state education system and lift the financial burden from local school districts.

Senate leaders said the proposal is their attempt to pay for education first, but others say it takes money from the needy and other vital areas.

The Senate plan hits many of the high points of the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, which called on the Legislature to fully pay the cost of basic education by 2018. The Senate would put more money into classroom materials and supplies, pay for student transportation, make a down payment on full-day kindergarten and put more money into programs that help struggling students and failing schools.

Some of the funds to pay for the Senate’s ideas would come from taking health insurance from part-time school employees, making teachers pay more of their health insurance, taking money away from vocational education and construction, replacing the state high school tests with national exams, and moving dollars aimed at teacher cost of living raises toward other purposes.

The rest would come from cuts to programs that help the poor or disabled.

“This is a smoke and mirrors budget that takes money out of one education pocket and puts it in another education pocket,” said Mary Lindquist, president of the Washington Education Association, the statewide teacher’s union.

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, said the state should not pay for public schools by slashing services for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

McAuliffe wants citizens to vote on a statewide income tax on individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples earning more than $400,000. The money would all go into a fund for education.

“I believe the public deserves the chance to decide for themselves if they want to buy back detrimental cuts to the most vulnerable and fund education for our students to ensure all children have the support they need to be able to live their dreams,” she said.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Andy Hill, R-Redmond, said the Senate proposal is all about prioritizing education, adding, “we’re driving outcomes instead of just throwing money at a problem.”

The Senate plan is the third of four expected budget proposals out of Olympia this year.

Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee made his budget proposal, which suggested similar education investments — plus more — but pays for the plans by closing tax loopholes and pushing new dollars toward education.

Soon the Democratic majority in the House is expected to release its budget proposal.

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, said it’s important to show the Supreme Court the Legislature is making progress on the McCleary decision, including taking the financial burden off locals. He calls that the “broccoli” of the equation.

“You could argue that it’s a higher value to add new services, and then replace the local costs,” as the Senate proposal does, Hunter said.

But that would put the Legislature in an uncomfortable position when it gets to the point where lawmakers need to ask taxpayers for more money just to keep things the way they are.

None of the budget proposals made so far tackle what may be an even bigger problem — figuring out how to pay the extra teachers necessary to lower class sizes, make school days longer, require more credits to graduate and offer free all-day kindergarten to all students.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.