Originally published Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Editorial
Overspending now creates future problems
Gov. Christine Gregoire's tilt toward education has our support. Her total of $33.4 billion in proposed general fund and near-general-fund...
Gov. Christine Gregoire's tilt toward education has our support. Her total of $33.4 billion in proposed general fund and near-general-fund spending is too high. It is about $1.3 billion more than the state expects to collect.
The state has the money to bridge that gap, but in the short term only. This budget spends money at a rate that creates a long-term problem. Four years ago, Gov. Gary Locke proposed a $24.9 billion budget. The current total is up $8.5 billion from that. Some of it is justified by the state's economic growth, but not all.
There are several ways to shrink the new spending. State employees pay 12 percent of their health-insurance costs. If they had to pay 20 percent, which is more in line with the private sector, it would save $134 million.
Most state employees are getting a 3.2-percent increase in July and a 2-percent increase a year later. Those high on the salary scale have a new 2.5-percent "step." Omitting the "step" would save $24 million.
Several agencies have big increases. The State Patrol is up 15 percent. Ecology is up 18 percent. Corrections is up 23 percent. Some small agencies have big jumps. The Arts Commission is up 19 percent.
Every such increase is backed up by an argument that sounds good. But you can't do it all — and if this is the year of education, it has to mean restraint elsewhere.
There is only one substantial cut in this budget, which is to eliminate gainsharing in the employee pension account. It is totally justified, and we hope the Legislature approves it.
But in a $33.4 billion budget, there could have been some other things shrunk to make room for education's gains.
Locke did it through a disciplined process called Priorities of Government. Gregoire's budget could use a dose of that.
NEW - 12:45 AM
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: The peril of lower standards in the 'new journalism'
George Will / Syndicated columnist: Huckabee's detour from reason in Obama theory
Lance Dickie / Seattle Times editorial columnist: Empower health care reform close to home
Rewind | Seattle Times Editorial Board interviews school officials
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: When punishment is a crime

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
Adorable Bull Terrier puppies for good home...
AKC Great Dane Puppies Ready
AKC PAL/ILP Registered Labs
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
497 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
389 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
324 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
303 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
108 - Rough road again
108 - A few late-night notes
84 - USA Today further spells out how Mariners, handful of clubs next in line for huge cash windfall
75 - Marijuana legalization initiative set to go on Nov. ballot
72
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
