News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 5, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke signs balanced 2002 supplemental operating budget

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today took action on the last of 373 bills passed by the 2002 Legislature, including a state supplemental operating budget that cuts spending by $685 million, requires no general tax increase and maintains an adequate reserve.

The governor discussed the 2002 legislative session and the supplemental operating budget at an afternoon news conference in Olympia.

In addition to the budget, Locke noted some other accomplishments of the 2002 legislative session, including:
  • Approval of a statewide transportation funding plan for the ballot that addresses serious traffic congestion problems and provides Central Puget Sound voters authority to approve additional funding to accelerate urgently needed transportation projects.

  • Improving the state’s business climate by taking action to implement key recommendations of the Washington Competitiveness Council.

  • Expanding the state’s construction budget through innovative financing; saving or creating more than 4,000 jobs.

  • Increasing worker retraining at Washington state’s community colleges and technical schools, so workers will be ready for new jobs as they become available.

  • Reforming civil service rules to create a leaner, more efficient government.

While signing the budget, Locke also vetoed last-minute appropriations that were approved by the Legislature, but without the revenue needed to fund them. Locke’s vetoes reduced spending by $37 million to put the $22.5 billion biennial budget in balance and provide a reserve of $308 million.

Locke said the supplemental budget take steps to reduce the size of a deficit that likely will have to be dealt with in the 2003-05 Biennium.

“Already, we estimate a deficit approaching $1 billion in the next two-year budget cycle,” the governor noted. “And the situation would be a lot worse if the Legislature had failed to reduce spending in all parts of the budget, as I proposed last December. Cuts taken this year will mean a savings in the next biennium of about $1.4 billion. These are cuts that cause pain for human services, local governments, schools and state workers.”

Locke added that, despite the fiscal crisis facing the state, the budget keeps education as the state’s highest priority.

“The budget protects funding for public schools and voter-approved class-size reduction,” Locke said. “It protects teacher salary increases approved by voters. At the same time, it recognizes that public schools, which account for nearly half of the General Fund budget, must play a role, in this case a small one, in helping to solve the budget problem.

“Asking school districts to tighten their belts at a time when everyone is doing the same – is not turning our back on schools. It is coming face to face with the fact that everyone needs to contribute when times are tough,” the governor concluded.

Among vetoes issued by the governor were:
  • Faculty recruitment: The Legislature did not provide necessary revenue to support faculty recruitment funding that was added at the last minute. Cutting unnecessary expenses or increasing tuition, colleges and universities can still remain competitive in the higher education market. Savings - $6.3 million.

  • Homecare workers raises: While putting a high value on the service that homecare workers provide for disabled and elderly people, Locke noted that the state could not afford a pay raise, no matter how small, to homecare workers. Savings - $4.2 million.

  • Legal settlements fund: The state will use a portion of the legal fund to help balance the state’s operating budget, but a reserve to meet the state’s legal obligation is maintained. Savings - $25 million.

“I am leaving intact some last-minute appropriations agreed to by the Legislature, including $6 million for health insurance for state workers, including state-funded higher education employees, and $13 million for counties and cities hardest hit by revenue losses due to Initiative 695,” Locke said.

In addition to signing the supplemental budget, Locke also took action on the following bills:
  • Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2866, relating to hydraulic permits.
  • Engrossed House Bill No. 2918, relating to charitable bingo.
  • Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6080, relating to fireworks.

Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature
- Bill Information
- Gov. Locke's 2002 Bill Action
- 2002 Enacted Supplemental Budgets


» Return to this month's News Releases
» View News Release Archive

Access Washington