Budget non-rumors

The Senate Democrats had a presentation today where they went over budget items. In one of the documents they released:

• Held tuition increases at current-law rate.
• Cut all of higher education by 14 percent.
• WHO’S AFFECTED: 10,500 fewer students will attend college
  

14% is a heck of a lot better than the 25-30% rumored earlier. The student FTE reduction will hit the UofWA harder than it will us, but each lost student is its own reduction in state funds. Of course, the House version may be very different. What we don't yet know is if there is any WWU-specific legislation in this proposal. Plus, both bills have to be reconciled before it is signed by the Governor.

Still, it is nice to see a number significantly lower than the one we'd been expecting. Here is to hoping it stays low.

Update. The President speaks.