Universities and colleges press Ways & Means on compensation funding, 'fund split' and Washington College Grant

Higher‑education leaders told the committee the governor’s budget largely sustains base funding but leaves open significant shortfalls tied to employee compensation, collective bargaining agreements and program funding.

Joel Anderson of the Washington Student Achievement Council said the governor’s proposal maintains income eligibility for the Washington College Grant through the 2026–27 academic year and asked the legislature to include the funding so that more than 100,000 students continue to receive grants. Representatives from the University of Washington, Washington State University, Western Washington University, Central Washington University and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges emphasized partial funding for compensation increases and said unresolved gaps in the “fund split” leave universities exposed to tuition pressure and recruitment challenges.

Faculty and staff speakers, including a University of Washington faculty legislative representative, asked for full funding of negotiated or expected cost‑of‑living increases to avoid turnover; WSU’s elected faculty representative said partial COLA funding would continue retaining problems. Community and technical college leaders warned against a proposed supplemental takeback of $28.6 million that colleges have spent or committed this fiscal year and asked the legislature to preserve those appropriations.

Ending: Higher‑education speakers urged the committee to preserve funding for the Washington College Grant, fully fund compensation and avoid supplemental takebacks that would create immediate operational shortfalls.