Governor’s supplemental budget proposals released

Today Governor Inslee released his proposals for the state’s 2022 supplemental operating and capital budgets.  The governor’s supplemental budget proposals include the following investments for WWU:

The governor’s operating proposal includes the state’s share of a 3.25% compensation increase for all Western employees in Fiscal Year 23.  The operating budget proposal also includes:

• $1.8 million per year for student success and retention efforts at WWU;
• $694k per year + $100k in one-time funding to expand access in Western’s nursing degree programs; and
• $639k per year + $569k in one-time funding to expand cybersecurity training programs and facilities.

In the 2022 Supplemental Capital Budget, the governor is proposing to provide Western $1.5 million in bonds for Classroom and Lab Upgrades, $1 million in bonds for Minor Works – Program, and authority to use $1.5 million in local funds for existing state-approved projects that are impacted by inflation and supply chain challenges.

The release of the governor’s budget proposals marks the beginning of the State’s supplemental budgeting process.  The Legislature will convene for the 2022 Session on January 10th, when state lawmakers will consider the governor’s budget proposals and begin negotiating the final supplemental budgets that are scheduled to be finalized in mid-March.