Locke signs $22.8 billion state operating budget

(Press release from governor's office)

OLYMPIA, WA - June 26, 2001 -  - Gov. Gary Locke today signed a $22.8 billion state
operating budget that continues Washington's commitment to improving public
schools, protects vulnerable children and adults and makes the best use of
the state's water and energy resources.

"This is a budget that is good for Washington," Locke said about the
two-year spending plan.  "It continues our commitment to reduce class sizes
through the Better Schools Fund and Initiative 728.  And it provides
additional funding to improve school safety, to stop bullying in our schools
and to help struggling young students keep up with their classmates in
reading and math."

The governor thanked fiscal committee chairs Sen. Lisa Brown and Rep. Helen
Sommers and Rep. Barry Sehlin.  Locke also thanked Senate Majority Leader
Sid Snyder and House co-speakers Frank Chopp and Clyde Ballard for their
efforts in passing the budget.

Locke said the budget approved by the Legislature last week addresses
education needs by:

         *       Encouraging top professionals to become teachers and take
their experience to classrooms

         *       Allowing dedicated teachers to be rehired by school
districts after they retire

         *       Continuing the Reading Corps and Promise Scholarships

         *       Establishing a new Technology Institute at the University of
Washington, Tacoma

The budget improves safety for the state's most vulnerable children and
adults.  It reduces caseloads of child-protection employees, improves foster
care and creates safer conditions for aging and disabled citizens, the
governor said.

"This budget also recognizes our water shortage by including funding that
will help us provide water for our farms, cities and towns and for salmon in
our rivers and streams," Locke said.

The governor said the budget addresses top public safety concerns including
funding for a new special commitment center for sex offenders at the state
corrections facility on McNeil Island.

The budget also funds a program to fight the methamphetamine epidemic,
restricting sales of ingredients used to make this dangerous, illegal drug.

Locke said the budget respects state workers, providing a salary increase
that works toward parity with salary increases for state-funded
schoolteachers.

Locke also signed a $2.5 billion capital budget for the 2001-03 biennium.
It provides important funding for new public schools and building projects
at state colleges and universities.  It also funds renovation projects at
state corrections and mental health facilities and at state parks.

Finally, the governor signed a $3.4 billion "current law" transportation
budget that he said continues existing transportation programs but is
"woefully inadequate" in the face of serious traffic congestion problems.

Locke called a third special session of the Legislature to begin July 16 for
action on a long-term state transportation plan, including new revenue
sources.

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Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136 or visit the
governor's homepage at www.governor.wa.gov

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