Colleges Unite To Back Endowment Fund But Sen. West Says Legislature Unlikely To Fund Universities’ Plan This Session
Washington’s community colleges and four-year schools, which often clash over turf, were unified Monday in their efforts to urge lawmakers to set up an endowment fund that would match business and alumni gifts.
The proposal, SB6242, has the unanimous backing of the Senate Higher Education Committee. But the plan still could end up a popular proposal that goes nowhere this year.
Senate Ways and Means Chairman James West, R-Spokane, a co-sponsor of the plan, said the request for money runs counter to Republicans’ intention to allow only minor changes in the state budget this year.
“It’s too early to tell, but this may be a good example of bringing up a fine proposal that people can think about and consider doing in 1999” when a new two-year budget is built from the ground up, he said in an interview.
“It certainly doesn’t meet any of the criteria we have for this budget this year.”
As envisioned by the University of Washington, Washington State University, the community colleges and Eastern, Western, Central and Evergreen, the state would put up $50 million a year for five years. That money would never be spent but earnings from investments could be used to leverage private contributions.
The dollars could be used for scholarships, libraries, distinguished professorships, graduate student fellowships or other ways of enriching local offerings. It would not be subtracted from state appropriations.
UW would receive 32 percent of the proceeds, WSU 22 percent, the community college system 32 percent and the other four-year schools 14 percent.
The bill doesn’t specify an appropriation. If it emerges from the committee, it would go to West’s committee for consideration - or killing - as the budget is put together. It also would require full Senate and House approval.
The measure drew support from presidents Sam Smith of WSU, Jane Jervis of Evergreen, Lee Thornton of Columbia Basin College and Gary Oertli of Shoreline Community College as well as students, college fund-raising officers and faculty.
xxxx MONDAY NOTES Highlights House Republicans came out with their “Kids First!” education agenda, which includes a reading program that requires districts with poor reading scores to use phonics and a range of instruction methods. Seven Democrats and a Republican, all women, touted a package of proposals designed to improve health care coverage for women.
Coming up The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee was scheduled today to hold a hearing on a bill allowing the medical use of marijuana.
Overheard “We don’t like to see mandates on local schools, but we cannot allow this problem to go unsolved and leave 30,000 kids behind each year.” - House Education Chairwoman Peggy Johnson, R-Shelton, explaining why the education plan touted by the GOP runs counter to the Republican theme of getting Olympia off the backs of local districts.
Days in session Monday was day 9 of the 60-day session.
Legislative hotline 1-800-562-6000 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.