More prison beds, but no cost-of-living raises for school teachers were the two takeaways after Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday proposed a modest update to the state’s two-year budget.
Think of the governor’s supplemental budget proposal as a list of bullet points. Here are just three.
More Prison Beds
The governor proposes to open a 256-bed medium-security unit at the Washington State Penitentiary and contract with a county jail for 64 additional beds for female inmates. This is to address rising prison populations and reduce crowding.
Raises For Childcare Providers
Inslee proposes to fund a union negotiated 8-percent rate increase for family home childcare providers. But he says teacher cost-of-living increases will have to wait for the next two-year budget cycle.
Reverse Cuts To Tobacco Quitline
Inslee wants to reverse cuts to the state’s Tobacco Quitline and tobacco cessation services.
These are all just proposals the governor will send to the Legislature. Lawmakers may or may not agree when they reconvene in January.
