By League of Education Voters Policy Team
The Washington state Senate has released its 2019-2021 biennial budget proposal. See how it compares with the House and Governor Inslee’s budget proposal:
| Governor Proposed
All amounts are per biennium |
House Proposed
All amounts are per biennium |
Senate Proposed
All amounts are per biennium |
|
Early Childhood Education |
|||
| Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) | +$173 million
Expansion of ECEAP, childcare and ECEAP rate increases, Early Achievers |
+$130 million
Expansion of ECEAP, childcare and ECEAP rate increases, Early Achievers |
+$130 million
Expansion of ECEAP, childcare and ECEAP rate increases, Early Achievers |
K-12 |
|||
| Local Education Levies
Locally generated property taxes that provide additional education funding to be used at district discretion. Not considered state funding. |
Re-establishes previous levy system in place prior to 2019, increasing district levy authority by over $1 billion per year in local dollars. Levy lid varies by district | Creates a levy system where districts can choose one of two levy lids which will result in an increase in district levy authority. Levy lid varies by district | No Changes Made |
| Local Effort Assistance (LEA) | +$214 million
Re-establishes prior LEA system directing additional funding to districts with lower property values |
+$77 million
Re-establishes an LEA system similar to the previous version, but increases max LEA award for high-poverty districts |
No Changes Made |
| Special Education | +$145 million
Increases funding for Safety Net Program and adopts a tiered multiplier funding model |
+$69 million
Increases the special education multiplier from 96.09% to 99.25% |
+$156 million
Increases the special education multiplier from 96.09% to 100% and to support implementation of SB 5091 and SB 5532 |
| Student Supports | +$155 million
Begin the phase-in of increases in counselor, nurse, psychologist, and social worker staffing ratios at elementary and middle schools |
Not Included | Not Included |
| School Employee Health Benefits | +$646 million
To increase the insurance funding rate for school employees |
+$453 million
To increase the insurance funding rate for school employees |
+$507 million
To increase the insurance funding rate for school employees |
| Student Mental Health | +$7.5 million
Regional support structure for districts for student behavioral health and safety needs |
+$5.4 million
Regional support structure for districts for student behavioral health and safety needs |
+$2.9 million
Regional support structure for districts for student behavioral health and safety needs |
| Dual Language Supports | +$2.7 million
Expand and strengthen the state’s dual language grant program and statewide supports |
Not Included | Not Included |
| Paraeducator Supports | +$25 million
Provides a one-time four days of professional development for paraeducators for the 2019-20 school year |
+$12 million
Provides two days of professional development per year for paraeducators starting in 2019-20 and every year after |
+$23 million
Provides a one-time four days of professional development for paraeducators for the 2019- 20 school year |
| Highly Capable | Not Included | Not Included | +$3.8 million
Highly capable screenings for students at least once between second and sixth grade |
| Institutional Education | +$5.2 million
Enable students in institutional education to generate funding to support the fulfillment of their Individualized Education Program |
+$2.2 million
Enable students in institutional education to generate funding to support the fulfillment of their Individualized Education Program |
+$4.8 million
Enable students in institutional education to generate funding to support the fulfillment of their Individualized Education Program |
Higher Education |
|||
| State Need Grant | +$100 million
To fully fund the State Need Grant (WA College Promise) by 2020-21 |
+$250 million
To fully fund the State Need Grant (WA College Grant) by 2020-21 and expand eligibility to families up to 100% of median family income. Also creates WA State Student Loan Program |
+$98 million
To fully fund the State Need Grant (WA College Promise) by 2020-21 |
| Washington Opportunity Scholarship | +$85 million
To support students from low- and middle-income families pursuing degrees in high demand fields |
+$12 million
To support students from low- and middle-income families pursuing degrees in high demand fields |
+$9.3 million
To support students from low- and middle-income families pursuing degrees in high demand fields |
| Guided Pathways | +$8 million
Provide support to community colleges to implement Guided Pathway models |
+$60 million
To implement Guided Pathway models at all Community and technical college campuses |
Not Included |
| Postsecondary Student Supports | +$50 million
To expand academic and student support services for postsecondary institutions |
Not Included | Not Included |
| Higher Education Operating Costs | +$64 million
To account for increased operating costs at institutions of higher education |
+$45 million
To account for increased operating costs at institutions of higher education |
+$43 million
To account for increased operating costs at institutions of higher education |
| Career Connected Learning | +$33 million
Establish regional career connected learning networks |
+$17 million
Establish a career connected learning competitive grant program |
Not Included |
| Working Connections Child Care for Student Parents (WCCC) | Not Included | +$4 million
Allows full-time higher education students who are single parents and are pursuing a degree to not have to work to receive WCCC |
Not Included |
Revenue and Spending |
|||
| Capital Budget | +$1.1 billion
To support the School Construction Assistance Program in providing financial assistance to districts in the construction of schools |
+$1.1 billion
To support the School Construction Assistance Program in providing financial assistance to districts in the construction of schools |
+$1.1 billion
To support the School Construction Assistance Program in providing financial assistance to districts in the construction of schools |
|
Total New Revenue
|
+$5 billion
|
+$1 billion
|
+$0.5 billion
|
|
Capital Gains
|
+2 billion
|
Expected revenues are not known at this time
|
Not Included
|
|
Business and Occupation Service Tax and other loophole closures
|
+$2.6 billion
|
Expected revenues are not known at this time
|
+$102 million
|
|
Real Estate Excise Tax
|
+$400 million
|
Expected revenues are not known at this time
|
+$421 million
|
2019-2021 Budget Proposal Side-By-Side (PDF)
Read our summary of the March 2019 Washington state revenue forecast
Love what we do? Support our work
Want to find out the latest in education news in Washington? Subscribe to our newsletter
Want to learn more about League of Education Voters? Find out here