OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire says that she has concerns about a Senate budget plan that cuts nearly $350 million to the state’s K-12 education system, saying that school districts are ill prepared to absorb more cash reductions.
One day after the Senate budget writers rolled out their proposed two-year state budget that slashes $4.8 billion in spending, the Democratic governor said Wednesday that she was pleased the budget proposal seems to be gimmick free.
The Senate plan cuts $250 million from K-12 education, which budget writer assumed it would come from a 3 percent wage cut for teachers. The plan also cuts $95 million from school districts based on class attendance.
Gregoire says that the cut would force school districts to consider layoffs because the $250 million would not necessarily come from wage cuts.
