Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 1, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Hal Spencer, Office of Financial Management, 360-902-0525
The governor also signed a $200 million supplemental capital construction budget – $111 million of it to build college and university facilities needed for an incoming wave of students.
The two supplemental budgets represent mid-course adjustments to the two-year spending plans approved last year.
“This is a great day for children,” Locke said. “Thousands of college-bound kids currently in high school classrooms across Washington have a brighter future today,” he added, pointing to one of his top achievements in budget negotiations with the 2004 Legislature.
The governor won $17 million to finance up to 3,000 new enrollment slots at state colleges and universities, with about one-third of the increase in high-demand fields such as information technology, nursing and engineering.
“When we strengthen our ability to give our kids a college education, we also strengthen our economy,” Locke added. “You can’t have a growing, thriving economy today without providing an educated, skilled workforce. Our state businesses demand it. Educated citizens are the key to a strong economy.”
“What we’ve done in this budget is really just a start. Our leaders must continue to find ways to accommodate more and more college and university students. Our kids’ futures and our economy depend on it,” Locke said. “In fact, we should be adding 10,000 enrollment slots to keep up with demand.”
The governor also praised the budget plan for including funding that he proposed to boost grant levels from $930 to about $1,200 for the governor’s Promise Scholarships, given to high-performing, low- and middle-income high school students.
Locke said he was pleased that funding was included to strengthen Washington’s public schools, including more flexible academic testing, more targeted help for failing schools and students, and for the creation of charter schools in Washington.
Locke said the budget reflects many of his other goals for the 2004 legislative session, which ended March 11.
They included:
·About $20 million to reduce or eliminate premiums for families of children receiving state-sponsored Medicaid coverage. For children in families up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level – which is an income of $23,500 a year for a family of three – the $15 per child monthly premiums scheduled to take effect are eliminated. Families between 150 and 200 percent of poverty ($23,500 to $31,300 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $10 per child instead of $20. Families between 200 and 250 percent of poverty ($31,300 to $39,200 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $15 per child instead of $25.
·$24 million to cover terms of a collective bargaining agreement for home health care workers, which resulted in a wage increase of 50 cents an hour plus workers’ compensation and health benefits.
·$68 million in continued tax incentives for research in specific technology areas, building research facilities, construction of manufacturing facilities in rural areas and help-desk enterprises in rural areas.
·Funding to reduce stormwater pollution and to curb toxins and carbon dioxide emissions in the environment.
Locke said the capital-spending plan provides needed higher education facilities and creates more high paying construction jobs as the economy recovers. “We will need these facilities to accommodate more students in the years to come.”
Related Links:
- Office of Financial Management
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 1, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Hal Spencer, Office of Financial Management, 360-902-0525
Gov. Gary Locke Signs Supplemental Operating and Construction Budgets into Law; Proclaims a ‘Great Day for Our Children’
Gov. Gary Locke today signed into law a $164.7 million supplemental operating budget that provides critical new funding for his top priorities – education, health care and economic development. The no-new-taxes budget leaves $279 million in reserve.The governor also signed a $200 million supplemental capital construction budget – $111 million of it to build college and university facilities needed for an incoming wave of students.
The two supplemental budgets represent mid-course adjustments to the two-year spending plans approved last year.
“This is a great day for children,” Locke said. “Thousands of college-bound kids currently in high school classrooms across Washington have a brighter future today,” he added, pointing to one of his top achievements in budget negotiations with the 2004 Legislature.
The governor won $17 million to finance up to 3,000 new enrollment slots at state colleges and universities, with about one-third of the increase in high-demand fields such as information technology, nursing and engineering.
“When we strengthen our ability to give our kids a college education, we also strengthen our economy,” Locke added. “You can’t have a growing, thriving economy today without providing an educated, skilled workforce. Our state businesses demand it. Educated citizens are the key to a strong economy.”
“What we’ve done in this budget is really just a start. Our leaders must continue to find ways to accommodate more and more college and university students. Our kids’ futures and our economy depend on it,” Locke said. “In fact, we should be adding 10,000 enrollment slots to keep up with demand.”
The governor also praised the budget plan for including funding that he proposed to boost grant levels from $930 to about $1,200 for the governor’s Promise Scholarships, given to high-performing, low- and middle-income high school students.
Locke said he was pleased that funding was included to strengthen Washington’s public schools, including more flexible academic testing, more targeted help for failing schools and students, and for the creation of charter schools in Washington.
Locke said the budget reflects many of his other goals for the 2004 legislative session, which ended March 11.
They included:
·About $20 million to reduce or eliminate premiums for families of children receiving state-sponsored Medicaid coverage. For children in families up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level – which is an income of $23,500 a year for a family of three – the $15 per child monthly premiums scheduled to take effect are eliminated. Families between 150 and 200 percent of poverty ($23,500 to $31,300 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $10 per child instead of $20. Families between 200 and 250 percent of poverty ($31,300 to $39,200 per year for a family of three) will pay premiums of $15 per child instead of $25.
·$24 million to cover terms of a collective bargaining agreement for home health care workers, which resulted in a wage increase of 50 cents an hour plus workers’ compensation and health benefits.
·$68 million in continued tax incentives for research in specific technology areas, building research facilities, construction of manufacturing facilities in rural areas and help-desk enterprises in rural areas.
·Funding to reduce stormwater pollution and to curb toxins and carbon dioxide emissions in the environment.
Locke said the capital-spending plan provides needed higher education facilities and creates more high paying construction jobs as the economy recovers. “We will need these facilities to accommodate more students in the years to come.”
Related Links:
- Office of Financial Management
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