With a month remaining before the end of the Legislature’s regular session, budget questions bring a mix of anticipation and anxiety for city leaders on transportation projects, educators on school funding, state agencies on their programs and taxpayers for their tax bills.
Among those waiting to see what comes out of Olympia in the next 30 days are supporters of the effort to build both the infrastructure and the programs for the University Center of North Puget Sound in Everett.
University Center, operated by Washington State University since July 1 when it took over management from Everett Community College, is the cooperative effort of WSU, Central and Western Washington universities and the University of Washington. It currently offers more than a dozen degree programs, including engineering, communications and hospitality-business management.
But a proposal to build a multi-story building for the University Center across North Broadway from the EvCC campus, would allow the center to expand its degree programs to as many as 42 by 2021, emphasizing science, technology, engineering and math. WSU has sought $61 million for the building and $4.5 million in the operating budget to launch programs in software engineering, data analytics and more as early as January.
The governor in his budget outlined $54.6 million for the building. Herald Writer Jerry Cornfield reported Tuesday that both budget requests have bipartisan support. A letter from most of the county’s legislative delegation to both houses’ budget writers supports the spending, and most lawmakers that spoke with Cornfield expressed optimism.
It’s not unanimous. Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, noted the competition for funding, especially as the Legislature looks to fund its responsibilities for K-12 education as well as those under I-1351, which mandates smaller class sizes. Dunshee also expressed concerns that WSU’s concurrent pursuit of a new medical school could siphon off capital funding and lessen WSU’s interest in its University Center in Everett, which Dunshee has championed.
While we understand Dunshee’s funding concerns, we don’t share the belief that WSU will lose interest in University Center or that the medical school will monopolize capital funding.
Bob Drewel, University Center chancellor, said the funding for the medical school and the Everett University Center are distinct programs, both with the full support of WSU. Lisa Brown, chancellor of WSU’s Spokane campus, where the medical school will be based, said it has what it needs for facilities for its first 10 years. The medical school, with a statewide network that will place medical students throughout the state to work with hospitals and clinics, will need the education facilities, especially University Center, to support its students. This will keep the capital outlay necessary for the medical school at a minimum as well as strengthen the need for facilities in Everett and other communities throughout the state.
University Center and WSU’s medical school are worthwhile investments that will expand educational opportunities and build communities.
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