Initiative-backed education initiatives should be suspended in these tough times

"Neither initiative offers a sustainable way to fund what it promises to do. Something from nothing is dangerous budgeting, even for the state's most important constitutional duty."

ONE harsh reality of passing citizen initiatives in rosy economic times is they become unsustainable when the dark clouds of recession move in. The quote above is from a 2000 Seattle Times editorial opposing passage of Initiative 728, the public school class-size-reduction measure, and Initiative 732, the teacher-pay-raise plan.

Few disagree with the values expressed by these initiatives. Smaller class sizes improve the learning experience. Better pay for teachers is the right thing to do. But these two proposals don't account for tough economic times, except to add to the whopper $5 billion state deficit.

Everything has to be on the table for cuts. Planned employee pay raises probably will not take effect. State employment likely will drop.

These initiatives put public-school spending ahead of other spending. But as we saw in the last big downturn, the state will have to suspend these measures to balance the budget.

If the state slashes both initiatives in full, lawmakers could save $1.45 billion. Easier said than done. A lot of the money has become a key part of school budgets. Class sizes will balloon. Teachers will be very unhappy.

These initiatives now have to be considered good-times proposals. When the money is there, sure, spend on education. It's the will of the voters.

In 2003, during the last downturn, a bipartisan effort led by Gov. Gary Locke, Democrat, and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Dino Rossi, Republican, suspended the initiatives for two years, either through cutting increases or just plain cutting.

Gov. Christine Gregoire came into office in better times and she and the Legislature reinstated the initiatives.

The initiatives, or large parts of them, have to be suspended until the economy improves. The goals of the initiatives are worthwhile. They just have to go away a while until we can afford them.