A look at some of the Legislature's major budget moves

State lawmakers patched up a $2.8 billion budget shortfall by trying, they said, to do as little damage as possible.

The final package, approved last week, included more than $700 million in cuts.

The cuts could have gone much deeper, but majority Democrats voted for taxes that are expected to bring in nearly $800 million through June 2011, and used around $1.3 billion in one-time fixes including reserves and federal money to maintain current services as much as possible.

The budget is not expected to solve the state's money problems for long. Another large shortfall is expected to greet lawmakers next year.

Gov. Chris Gregoire said her office did not have a projection yet, but said, "Let there be no mistake, we're going to struggle."

A closer look at the effects of some of the session's budget cuts:

State agencies:

State workers are taking some hits.

In particular, the Legislature ordered state agencies to save $48 million through furloughs or other pay reductions for some employees.

The legislation says agencies must find a way to cut payroll costs by that amount or furlough workers 10 days during the next fiscal year, which runs from this July through June 2011.

If they get permission from the governor's budget office, agencies can avoid furloughs by reducing worker hours or not filling vacancies. Workers in many agencies would be exempt from the requirement, including in state prisons, Child Protective Services, law enforcement and the ferry system.

In addition, cost-of-living increases remain suspended, a step taken by lawmakers last year. However, around 20,000 state workers are projected to get roughly $26 million in "step increases" from previously approved state and federal funding in the current two-year budget.

Also, the Legislature spent $65 million to partially backfill a shortfall in the state workers' health-care plan.

The infusion is expected to maintain health-care benefits at current levels. The state pays 88 percent of health-care premiums. Last year, lawmakers made changes that forced higher co-pays and deductibles for state workers.

The governor's office says the state work force is shrinking as the result of budget cuts this session and last year. Figures provided by the office project employment, excluding K-12 teachers, will have dropped by more than 4,000 full-time equivalents by June 2011, to a total of around 107,852 full-time slots.

— Andrew Garber

Education:

In all, lawmakers reduced K-12 education spending by $120 million. Lawmakers softened the blow somewhat by raising the limit on what school districts can raise through local property-tax levies, but that won't be enough to equal the amount districts will lose. And not all districts will be able to convince voters to agree to pay more.

The biggest single cut — $79 million — came from eliminating the amount that districts have received under Initiative 728, the ballot measure voters passed in 2000 to help school districts raise student achievement, primarily by lowering class sizes.

At its peak in 2008-09, that initiative provided school districts with $458.10 per student in state dollars. But the Legislature since has cut back.

This school year, districts received $131 per student. Next school year, they were supposed to receive $99 per student, but now will receive nothing. For many districts, that will mean larger class sizes and fewer teachers, and perhaps the loss of some programs.

— Linda Shaw

Higher education:

The budget cuts $73 million from the state's universities and community colleges.

While each institution will decide what to cut, many colleges are expected to continue the trend of offering fewer courses. Students may find longer wait lists and larger class sizes. For instructors, the clampdown on travel and expenses will likely continue.

Offsetting some of the cuts at community colleges is an $18 million increase for worker retraining, aimed at getting unemployed people back to work. That money will provide for an additional 3,700 enrollments at the state's 34 two-year colleges, said Janelle Runyon, spokeswoman for the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges. Enrollment has increased 10 percent at community colleges over the past year, a reflection of the number of people out of work.

A bill that would have allowed the state's largest universities to set their own tuition, within limits, died in the House this session after earlier passing in the Senate.

Nevertheless, the University of Washington and other institutions are expected to hike tuition the maximum allowed 14 percent this year, which will ease the budget pressure at the institutions but put more strain on students.

— Nick Perry

Health care:

No cuts were made to the state's Basic Health Plan, an insurance program for the working poor.

The budget, however, assumes the federal government will give the state $12.9 million to help run the program. If the federal money does not come through, the state will have to cut the rolls by 4,000 people.

Basic Health provides insurance for 69,000 Washington residents.

— Andrew Garber

Corrections:

Lawmakers found savings in the prison system, taking advantage of a slowing demand for prison space. They agreed to shut down one facility and shift prisoners to other sites with the goal of using space more efficiently.

McNeil Island Corrections Center has been eyed for years by lawmakers looking to save money, but after an outcry from Pierce County lawmakers, the Legislature reached a compromise — downsize McNeil Island from 1,250 medium- and minimum-custody offenders to 256 minimum-custody offenders. Many offenders will be sent to other facilities.

The state's Special Commitment Center, which houses sexually violent predators and is run by the Department of Social and Health Services, will remain on the island.

Lawmakers also agreed to shrink Larch Corrections Center, a minimum-security prison near Vancouver, from 480 to 240 beds and to shutter Pine Lodge Corrections Center, a women's prison near Spokane.

The Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration-run Maple Lane School will close by the end of 2013. The Centralia facility houses juvenile criminals addicted to drugs and alcohol as well as youth with mental-health issues and juvenile sex offenders. The closure is expected to save about $5.8 million. Youth will be placed in other juvenile facilities.

— Jennifer Sullivan