The 2008 supplemental operating budget passed the Legislature today and it was another rendition of good news, not so good news.

The not so good news is that we didn't get everything we wanted. The good news is that we got something.

First, however, it's important to remember that we already had some very good things in hand. We already had another a 3.7 percent COLA this year on top of last year's and this year's will be increased from the originally budgeted 2.8 percent to 3.9 percent because of an increase in the Consumer Price Index. Not bad—a 7.6 percent increase over two years.

Even better, now you can add a half percent to that, so the total increase will be 8.1%. The additional half percent is what the Legislature offered for a COLA catch-up from what was lost when those covered by I-732 were denied their COLAs in 2003-05. One half percent is not the three percent that was requested, but when the bleak new budget forecast came out along with a senate budget that offered zero, we can be pleased that there was anything at all. Thanks go to our brothers and sisters at WEA for their hard work on this issue, as well as to those of you who wrote, called, and came to Lobby Day.

Fresh increment and equity raises have also already been budgeted for both two-year faculty increments and equity raises for faculty who teach part-time. The amounts for this year will be the same as were allocated last year – another $2.5 million for increments and $3.7 million for part-time equity. So those of you who went through rounds of salary reopeners in the fall can plan to start them right back up again.

Finally, the final budget did include the $500,000 for creation of more full-time faculty positions though conversions. Those funds will be allocated by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and we have already started lobbying them to assure that the protections that were in the FACE bill will be incorporated into the allocation plan. Since $500,000 will provide only 20 conversions at most, we are proposing a method by which the colleges would apply for the money and commit to certain strategies in creating the positions. It would be a pilot program to see how the concepts could be implemented.

But that's for later. Right now, it's important that you contact Governor Gregoire to ask for her support for the half percent COLA catch up and the $500,000 for conversions. She wants to build the rainy day fund (since rainy days seem to be coming), but we have to let her know that we got rained on during the last rainy day economic period by getting our COLAs suspended. Thank her for her support for education and let her know how important you consider it to be.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

We are happy to hear the Legislature's supplemental budget includes two items that will help education employees: a half-percent cost of living adjustment and $500,000 for converting part-time positions to full-time positions in our community college system.

We realize that the economic forecast is bleak, but we believe funding these two items are the right thing to do: Restoring our COLA from the last "rainy-day" period during 2003-05, and a small, but important step toward providing stability in our two-year public higher education system through conversions.

I urge you to please keep these budget items in the final budget.

Thank you for your support of education.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 14, 2008