WSU Leaders Respond to Legislative Compromise Budget

PULLMAN, Wash. - Under the legislative compromise operating budget released Friday, Washington State University would have its state allocation reduced by 21.5 percent, or about $112 million, over the two years of the biennium.

The budget is built on the assumption of a 14 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduates for each of the two years. That equates to about $42.4 million in revenue for the university over the biennium.
With the addition of federal stimulus funds, the overall budget reduction to WSU equates to 10.4 percent, or $54.2 million over the biennium.

"We are fully aware of the economic difficulties facing our state and nation. Under those fiscal conditions, the Legislature did the best it possibly could do to protect higher education," said President Elson S.
Floyd.

"We are particularly grateful to the critical leadership of Gov. Chris Gregoire and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown in this regard. The legislative compromise budget is a substantial improvement over the original House proposal and we appreciate the efforts of House Ways and Means Chair Kelli Linville and Appropriations-Education Chair Kathy Haigh on behalf of higher education," Floyd said.

"Now that we have the budget numbers in hand, we will be able to continue the process of determining a budget plan that will, to the best of our ability, minimize negative impacts on the academic mission and strategic priorities of our university," said Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly.

Floyd said the release of the budget will allow the university to proceed with its previously announced plan to announce its budget plan on May 1. University leaders will gather feedback on that plan throughout the month of May, with a goal of finalizing the budget on June 1. The new fiscal year begins July 1.