News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 9, 2003
Contact:  Roger Nyhus, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136;
Alt Contact:  Ed Penhale, Office of Financial Management, 360-902-0619

Gov. Locke Signs $144 Million Supplement Budget

Gov. Gary Locke today signed a $144 million supplemental budget for the current two-year budget cycle that includes additional funding to fight wild fires and to pay for growing public school, Medical Assistance and prison costs, among other critical needs.

The measure, which brings 2001-03 biennial General Fund spending to $22.595 billion, also sets the stage for significant spending reductions in the coming biennium by starting some of those reductions now rather than at the start of the new biennium on July 1. They range from reductions in the number of full-time state jobs to cuts in some programs.

“I’m pleased to sign this budget, and compliment the Legislature for doing the hard negotiations that led to its passage last week,” the governor said. “It reflects expenditures we simply must do, and also gives us an early start in making the hard choices we need to make to fill a $2.6 billion budget deficit and still deliver services that matter most to taxpayers.”



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