Without coming straight out and saying whether it supports Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposed half-cent sales tax increase, Microsoft released a statement Monday from Executive Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith, essentially saying that outcome-based K-12 reforms would be important to making any such tax increase worthwhile.

Smith said in his statement:

We're pleased that Governor Gregoire has prioritized education in her budget recommendations... It's important for the state to avoid further reductions in higher education funding... It's similarly important to maintain investments in K-12 education across the state...

While the importance of education makes this the right time to discuss funding options, it's vital that the discussion focus not only on how much money should be spent, but on spending it as effectively as possible. This is a time when the state should be making strategic improvements to education policy to strengthen our K-12 system. We believe it is important for the special session to adopt outcome-based reforms that will help ensure that all Washington students receive a quality education. These steps will best ensure that any proposed increase in the sales tax will lead to real improvements in education and thereby deserve the public's support in a referendum.

Gregoire on Monday proposed the sales tax increase to help deal with a $2 billion budget shortfall. According to my colleague, Andrew Garber:

The Legislature will convene a special session next Monday to start work on filling the hole in the current two-year budget.

Gregoire wants lawmakers to put a referendum on the March ballot asking for a temporary half-penny boost in the sales tax, which would bring in nearly $500 million a year. The tax would expire after three years and largely would go toward education, with smaller amounts for public safety and social services.