A COUPLE OF QUICK FACTS
The state budget has shrunk from $32.6 billion in 2007-09 to $32.2 billion in 2009-11, and the 2007-09 figure includes nearly a billion in federal stimulus funds. In that time state population has grown from 6.45 million to 6.8 million--that's the equivalent of adding another Clark County (Vancouver).
$184 MILLION STATE EMPLOYEE AND K-12 CUTS IN TAKE HOME PAY IN 2011-13
There are 23,835 state employees and 5,400 K-12 employees in Thurston County. Being the seat of government, we obviously have lots of state employees. With the 3% salary cut, increased health insurance costs, and increased retirement deductions, the average state employee will take home $3,690 less in each year of the new biennium. K-12 employees will see an average 3% decrease in their salaries. That is a loss of $92.7 million per year to local families and the local economy.
And it does not include the millions that will not be paid to retirees in Public Employees Retirement Plan 1 (PERS 1) and Teachers Retirement Plan 1 (TRS 1) because of the elimination--not just the suspension--elimination of future cost of living increases for these retirees. This was a request of Governor Gregoire that Rep. Reykdal, Senator Fraser, and I could not support.
I did get the Legislature to approve my amendment to raise the minimum monthly payment from $1,100 to $1,500 to provide some assistance to those who have been retired the longest.
From The Olympian (June 9, 2011) "The cold, hard reality is that the 2011-13 budget calls for the elimination of 4,000 public sector jobs -- state workers, K-12 teachers, college and university faculty and staff. That's on top of the 6,000 teachers and 12,000 state workers the state has already sent to the unemployment office under previous budget cuts..."
A high percentage of the state employee staff reductions will occur here; the number will be in the thousands. The Olympia, North Thurston, and Tumwater school districts will have approximately 100 fewer teachers next school year. Cuts in support staff--classroom aides, bus drivers, cooks, administrators--will be added to that list as district budgets are formulated. And these numbers do not include increased health care co-pays that are sure to occur.
The state budget will have a significant negative impact on the local economy. Our businesses will feel the impact. Think of a couple who work for the state who would like to buy a house, new car or major appliance. Will they be able to do that with $7380 gone from their paychecks? Even going out for pizza or to a movie will require extra consideration in many households. State employees and K-12 staff have not received a pay increase since 2008 when gasoline averaged close to $2 a gallon.
- Eliminate the Disability Lifeline medical program for 20,000 low-income and disabled Washingtonians (cut $41 million in state funds and $85 million in total funds);
- Make cuts to Indigent Assistance DSH for Certified Public Expenditure hospitals and cut 20 percent of their low-income DSH payments (cut $4.8 million in total funds). All other hospitals already lost 40 percent of their low-income DSH payments in the 2011 state budget.
• Cut Medicaid funding for community mental health delivered through regional support networks by $7.9
million in state funds and $15.7 million in total funds; cut non-Medicaid funding by $6.6 million in state
funds.
• Cut hospital and physician payments for health care for Department of Corrections inmates by $4.6 million
• Cut hospital and physician payments for health care for Department of Corrections inmates by $4.6 million
in state funds.
• Public Health: The Senate budget contains a new cut of $5 million to funding for local public health; Family
• Public Health: The Senate budget contains a new cut of $5 million to funding for local public health; Family
Planning: The Senate budget cuts funding for family planning grants by $6 million (33 percent)
