An unexpected move by three Democratic senators passed a significantly different proposed supplemental budget than the one released last week by the Washington state Senate Democrats.

Last week’s proposed budget called for no further cuts to WSU in the biennium. However, after the Senate Republicans gained support from several Democrats, a new proposal passed that calls for $9.2 million in cuts to WSU.

With a 25-24 vote, the Senate’s new proposed budget moves to the House. The House supplemental proposal calls for about $9.3 million in reductions to the WSU budget. During the rest of the legislative session, the House and Senate budgets will be reconciled, along with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal, which includes $26 million in cuts for the university.

“We will work closely with Democratic and Republican lawmakers to promote a budget that protects, to the greatest extent possible, funding for our students and our university and a budget that places our state on a solid
financial footing for the future,” President Elson S. Floyd said in a “Perspectives” blog post.

Both the Washington State Senate and House proposed supplemental budgets designate $3.8 million to WSU in order to expand the engineering program.