Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 4, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Office of Financial Management (360) 902-0525

Locke's budget stresses education, calls for accountability

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today proposed a financial plan for Washington State that stresses public education, protects working families and the environment and provides meaningful tax relief to homeowners and businesses. He calls for increased accountability in all areas of state government and leaves a reserve of $304 million.

The proposed $19.2 billion operating budget for the 1997-99 Biennium, which comes in under the Initiative 601 spending limit, offers the smallest percentage increase in the state's budget in more than 25 years.

"We've taken a comprehensive approach to building this budget," Locke said. "We're tightening our belts and making tough choices so that we can direct new dollars toward my number one priority, education."


Locke's proposal stands by his commitment to stay the course on education reform and build a world-class education system by dedicating 58 percent, $11.2 billion, of his budget to K-12 and higher education. He earmarks $69.8 million to raise academic standards through student learning improvement grants for local school districts and adds $17.3 million to assist property-poor school districts through increased levy equalization, bringing total levy equalization funding to $188.8 million.

The Governor adds $6 million for a "Reading to Learn" initiative. The initiative would involve parents, school districts, libraries and community organizations in a collaborative effort to improve students' reading skills, which he called the "cornerstone of a good education."

Locke spends $28 million for education technology grants. The grants must be matched by a like amount of business or community funds, and schools must have a plan for evaluating the improvement in student learning gained from technology-based education. Business and community leaders have been involved in the state's efforts to reform all areas of education through the work of the Commission on Student Learning.

As announced last week, Locke recommends adding $25.5 million to expand higher education opportunities by 6,310 full-time students over the next two years and $30 million to boost financial aid to help working families.

As with his operating budget, the primary focus of the Governor's 10-year capital plan is public education, which would receive 54 percent of the capital budget available for new construction in the 1997-99 Biennium. His proposal includes $116 million to begin an ambitious branch-campus construction program that will build capacity to educate an additional 14,000 students throughout the state. Locke's capital plan fully funds anticipated public school construction needs over the next 10 years.

In his inaugural address, Locke warned against further delay in addressing such issues as juvenile justice reform and state water policy, which he said "have been tangled in a web of conflicts and controversies year after year."

To improve public safety, he proposes the Community Juvenile Justice Act, with a total of $24.9 million to increase sentences for the most serious juvenile offenders, intensify supervision of parolees most likely to re-offend, and bolster community efforts to steer first-time offenders away from a life of crime. As part of Locke's early-intervention strategy, his legislative proposal would enlist local Family Policy Councils and Law and Justice Advisory Councils to develop criteria and distribute grants for local juvenile justice initiatives.

To support economic development and protect the environment, Locke wants water disputes resolved. He provides $39 million to address several issues demanding immediate attention, to implement local watershed plans and to lay the groundwork for long-term solutions to the state's water problems.

To further preserve Washington's environmental heritage, the Governor provides $50 million for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and funds the Trust Land Transfer Program at $31 million in the capital budget.

Economic development and homeowner tax relief are spurred by the Governor's tax relief measures that would provide $311 million in tax reductions for homeowners and business during the next two years. The plan demonstrates his pledge to return business and occupation tax rates to pre-1993 levels by cutting business taxes $94 million and cutting property taxes by $217 million.

To help working families more, Locke proposes a 1997 supplemental budget that provides $75 million to address the current shortfall in the state's Health Services Account, which subsidizes medical coverage for families who are enrolled in the Basic Health Plan (BHP). His 1997-99 operating budget includes an additional $66 million to support health care for low-income children through Medicaid and $114 million to provide coverage for 150,000 families on the BHP, an increase of 20,000 families.

"This budget provides new opportunities for hard-working people who apply themselves, whether at school, at home or in the workplace," Locke said.

Also included in the Governor's budgets are plans for employee salary increases and welfare reform funding.

The Governor provides $366.8 million to fund cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for teachers, faculty members and all other state employees. They have received only one raise in the last four years. Teachers, university faculty and other state employees would receive a 2.5 percent raise each year.

As previewed last week, Locke's budget proposal shows how the state will fund his WorkFirst welfare reform proposal that mandates work by able-bodied citizens and sets a five-year lifetime limit on benefits.

Using $43 million in new federal block grant funds, Locke plans to initiate the new WorkFirst program. While calling for an immediate search for work, the proposal also directs a combination of state and federal funds to provide the job skills training, child care, and drug and alcohol treatment necessary to help those welfare applicants succeed in the workplace. Total funding for child care is more than $330 million.

Locke's plan recognizes that some children and adults, including thousands of legal immigrants, are frail, blind or otherwise disabled and need assistance just to meet the basic demands of life. Noting that a significant share of federal budget cuts were targeted to services for legal immigrants, Locke directs $121 million in state funds to help those facing the loss of federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and food stamps.

"We will not turn our backs on those who truly need assistance," Locke said.

Throughout the budget, Locke's focus on accountability in all areas of government is evident. Performance measures are central to his budget and will be the benchmark for measuring agencies' progress on strategic goals - from improving water quality in rivers and streams to raising immunization rates among children.

Locke also calls for a new savings plan that would allow state agencies to use half of any money saved through self-initiated efficiency measures, to improve customer service, provide training and update technology. The remaining 50 percent of the savings would go to a new account for statewide school construction.

Locke also would require higher education institutions to direct 2 percent of their funding for non-instructional programs to improve institutional effectiveness. Colleges and universities would have to demonstrate that more students can graduate on time and that fewer students take extra credit classes while they wait for space in required classes.

In conclusion, Locke said "The proposals I have announced are about setting priorities. We have the good fortune to live in a state with a growing economy, an energetic work force, and a healthy natural environment. But we also face some very tough choices about what we want for ourselves and our children. Today, I am asking the Legislature and all the people of this state to join with me to keep Washington a great place to live, work and raise a family."

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