News & Updates

The 2020 General Election was held Nov. 3, and while votes continue to trickle in, voter turnout in Washington state is expected to exceed 80 percent. As one of the few states that votes almost entirely by mail, ballots will continue to be tabulated over the next several weeks. All ballots sent by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted. Final election results will be certified by the Secretary of State on or before Dec. 3.

Washington state’s legislature consists of 98 seats in the House of Representatives, and 49 seats in the Senate. This election cycle, all 98 House seats and 26 of the Senate seats were up for election. Democrats currently have the majority in the House (57-41) and Senate (28-21).

Early election results indicate that Democrats might see a slight boost to their majorities in both chambers. However, several races are still too close to call, and it will take time before the final outcomes become clear. To track the legislative races, click here.

Also on the ballot were nine statewide executive seats – Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Lands, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee was elected to a rare third term over challenger Loren Culp, and former Congressman Denny Heck will now serve as the state’s Lt. Governor. Check out the statewide election results here.

New elected officials will assume office the second Monday in January, which is the start of the 2021 legislative session. The upcoming legislative session will be unlike any other due to the ongoing pandemic. New protocols – including remote testimony – will be implemented to ensure the safety and health of lawmakers, staff, agency officials, and the public. The Capitol building will be closed to the public and lobbyists and lawmakers are expected to convene in a mostly virtual setting. If they must meet in-person, strict safety procedures will be adhered to.

More information regarding protocols for the 2021 legislative session will be available later this fall. Stay tuned!

The UW 2021-23 legislative agenda

Every year, the University of Washington submits decision packages to the state outlining budget requests for the upcoming legislative session. Recognizing the challenges facing the state due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s decision package prioritizes preserving current state funding levels for the UW to avoid significant harm to student financial aid, staff positions and salaries, and the essential academic and administrative units that serve our students, build our state’s workforce, and generate billions of dollars in annual research and economic activity for the state.

The University will also focus on securing critical support for UW Medicine given their central role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing delivery of over $700 million in annual uncompensated care for our state’s most vulnerable patients.

The unprecedented events of 2020 shine a spotlight on the essential role of the UW and UW Medicine in our state. However, the historic investments made in public higher education and UW Medicine during the 2019-20 biennium are at risk due to the impact of COVID-19 on state revenue collections. The UW’s legislative agenda reflects this reality. It is minimal and focuses on what the UW and UW Medicine need most to continue to operate and serve our students, patients, and the state.

The UW – along with all state agencies – was also asked by the state to model the impacts of a 15 percent reduction to our budget, which is reflected in the decision packages. The UW asks the state to avoid the deep and devastating budget cuts that happened during the Great Recession.

To learn more about the UW’s 2021 state legislative agenda, click here.

 

Legislative engagement: capital budget briefing

Given the unprecedented year, the Office of State Relations took the opportunity to connect with capital budget leaders and staff to discuss and answer questions about the UW’s upcoming capital budget projects and requests. Led by UW Facilities, the presentation provided information about the University’s capital budget process and priorities for the 2021 legislative session across its three campuses. An additional briefing was hosted by the UW Medicine’s Office of Government Relations for the new Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital.

During difficult economic times, state capital projects are often viewed as an economic driver. With this in mind, the UW’s 2021 capital budget requests have not been reduced and will prioritize the following projects:

• $45.4M to construct a new interdisciplinary teaching and research facility for the College of Engineering in Seattle;
• $36M to construct a new business and engineering building at UW Tacoma;
• $5M in design funding for phase 2 of the Magnuson Health Sciences Center renovation and replacement;
• $3M in design funding to plan renovation needs for Anderson Hall in Seattle, and;
• $191.75M to build a new state-of-the-art Behavioral Health Teaching Facility.

Read more on the UW’s capital budget requests here.

 

Legislative engagement: Huskies from Home webinar series

Legislators and staff have participated in a series of virtual events hosted by the UW Office of External Affairs showcasing how the University and our students, faculty, and staff are adapting to the ongoing pandemic. As we began an unprecedented fall quarter at the UW, the Office of External Affairs invited elected officials and staff to learn more about the current Husky experience.

During the first webinar, UW leaders highlighted the UW’s COVID-19 response efforts and decision making process. They shared the challenges our students are facing and the ways the University is working to help ensure students continue to have access to the services and support they need.

The second event provided an overview of the UW’s fall quarter enrollment numbers and trends, which have been frequently requested by legislators and staff. The UW Office of Admissions also provided information about the University’s holistic admissions process, including recent changes to admission requirements.

The third webinar focused on the significant impact the pandemic has had on the UW’s research enterprise. Presentations provided insight into how the pandemic has shaped the broad portfolio of research occurring at the University.

Thank you to the elected officials and staff who participated!

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UW student engagement hub opens Oct. 31

Passed during the 2020 legislative session, Senate Bill 6313 requires all Washington state public higher education institutions to host a nonpartisan student engagement hub to increase opportunities for young voters. The hub is operated by the King County Auditor’s Office and allows voters to register in person, print their ballots and voter registration materials, and return their ballot.

The UW’s student engagement hub at Dempsey Indoor Facility will be open to students and the public starting on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Dempsey Indoor Facility is located on Walla Walla Road, Seattle, WA 98105. Hub hours of operation include:

Saturday, Oct. 31           10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 2              8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Election Day, Nov. 3       8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

For directions and parking information, click here.

On Sept. 23, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released their newest economic and revenue update, which estimates the state’s General Fund revenue collections will be $2.2 billion higher than what was forecasted in June for the current 2019-21 budget cycle. State revenue collections between Aug. 11 and Sept. 10 were $319.9 million (22.5%) higher than the quarterly June forecast, and cumulative collections are now $962.8 million (20.5%) higher than projected.

This is welcome news following the Council’s June quarterly revenue report, which estimated an astounding $4.5 billion revenue shortfall for the current biennium due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington employment numbers have also seen an improvement since the unemployment rate high of 16.3 percent in April. As of August, nearly half the jobs lost in March and April have been recovered and the unemployment rate has declined to 8.5 percent. Defying June predictions, there are now 81,800 more employed individuals than expected.

Economic and revenue forecasting remains challenging due to the unknown and constantly changing variables resulting from the ongoing pandemic. Using current data, total General Fund revenues are now projected at about $50.4 billion for the current 2019-21 budget cycle. This would leave the state with a net $760 million surplus at the end of the budget cycle on June 30, 2021. Revenue collections remain below pre-pandemic levels but are moving in the right direction and have seen a significant improvement from the June forecast.

Washington state will continue to face challenges over the next few months and years due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. Due to fiscal concerns, the state has implemented a number of cost saving measures and has asked agencies, including the University of Washington, to identify savings options in their 2021-23 budget requests.

The next quarterly revenue forecast is scheduled for Nov. 18 and will provide a better picture of the state’s economic health.

To view the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council’s complete September report, click here.

Sen. David Frockt and the deans of the UW’s six health science schools (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Social Work) helped break ground on the new Health Sciences Education Building on Aug. 27. Slated to open in May 2022, the four-story building will serve 8,000 students across the six health science schools, which are ranked among the highest in the nation. 

The current health sciences facilities were originally constructed in the 1970s and operate well beyond capacity, with mostly original infrastructure and an inflexible learning environment. The new building will facilitate and encourage interdisciplinary team-based learning. It will also further modernize and increase the UW’s health sciences workforce training capacity. The UW projects the space will allow for a 17 percent enrollment increase, in addition to continuing education for current health-care professionals across the state.

For more information about the building and its construction, click here.

Thank you to Sen. Frockt, the Washington State Legislature, and UW donors for your support in making this building possible.

The 2020 primary election was held yesterday, Aug. 4. Washington’s top-two primary system allows voters to choose any candidate running in each race, regardless of political party. The two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election on Nov. 3.

There are more than 4.6 million registered voters in Washington who vote entirely by mail. While ballots will continue to be collected and counted over the next several weeks, the state is already seeing higher voter turnout rates than the 2016 primary election. The election results will be certified by the Secretary of State by Aug. 21.

The Washington State House of Representatives has 98 seats and the Senate has 49. Democrats currently control both the House (57-41) and Senate (28-21). This election cycle, all 98 House seats are up for election, as are 26 of the Senate seats. Also on the ballot are the state’s 10 U.S. Representative seats and all statewide positions, including Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Lands, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.

To view the results, click here. They are updated daily until Aug. 18.

The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released their June quarterly report yesterday showing the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy. The Council predicts a staggering $4.5 billion revenue shortfall for the current 2019-21 biennium. The state’s General Fund has a cumulative shortfall of approximately $452 million (5.6%) since February 11.

Washington employment numbers have also seen sharp declines. In April, an unprecedented 468,800 jobs were lost. Numbers increased slightly in May, but the total decline in employment across all sectors since February is 841,200.

There is one bright spot. According to the Council, the state is seeing an increase in cannabis excise tax and license fee collections. They also reported a small uptick in consumer confidence and small business optimism and sales expectations.

State lawmakers are expected to go into special session in late summer or early fall to address the budget crisis. Before making budget cuts or new revenue decisions, many lawmakers are working to determine what federal aid might be available to help the state deal with the crisis. They are also monitoring pandemic and economic recovery numbers. A decision on the timing of special session could come as early as next week.

Additionally, Gov. Jay Inslee announced he is canceling raises for approximately 5,600 state employees and 40,000 state employees will be required to take weekly furlough days through the fall. These actions will save the state $55 million over the next year. The directive does not apply to higher education institutions. Leadership at the UW—with feedback from the University community—are figuring out next steps.

To view the complete Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council April report, click here.

The UW community continues to navigate through these difficult and confusing times, and resources have been developed to help guide students, faculty, and staff. For the many questions and concerns that have emerged, please visit the UW’s COVID-19 FAQ page for updates and resources as they become available.

Today, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council provided an update on the state’s fiscal reality and outlook prior to the usual quarterly forecast scheduled in June. The forecast is based on February numbers and incorporates the Governor’s budget vetoes. Due to normal delays in fiscal reporting, the forecast does not yet show a complete picture of the economic impacts of COVID-19 since shutdowns began in March.

Revenue collections for the state’s General Fund from March 11–April 10 were $3.5 million (0.2%) lower than the February forecast. In total, the collections since February were reported to be $6.1 million above the forecast. However, the numbers reflect February’s taxable activity, so do not show the impact of COVID-19.

Additionally, the state’s unemployment rate increased to 5.1% in March from 3.8% in February. This rate is based on numbers from early March before COVID-19 distancing measures were in place. Since then, claims for unemployment insurance have reportedly climbed to unprecedented levels.

In June, the quarterly economic and revenue forecast will be released as usual. Revenue collections will be significantly impacted by COVID-19.  Many sectors have already seen substantial hits, including manufacturing, a large economic driver in our region. It remains to be seen what these impacts will look like for the UW.

To view the complete and in-depth Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council April report, click here.

The UW community continues to navigate through these difficult and confusing times, and resources have been developed to help guide students, faculty, and staff. For the many questions and concerns that have emerged, please visit the UW’s COVID-19 FAQ page for updates as they become available. The pages includes resources, situation updates, call center information, and more.

On Friday, April 3, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the supplemental operating budget into law, but vetoed 147 new funding items approved by the legislature to reduce spending by nearly $445 million over the next three years. The Governor used his veto powers in anticipation of a significant decline in state revenue due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the most significant impacts to the higher education community is the Governor’s veto stopping the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Workforce Education Investment Account (WEIA, created by HB 2158) to ensure it remains solvent due to increased demand for the Washington College Grant. This may complicate the funding available in the WEIA for previously committed allocations for student financial aid and critical higher education needs.

Gov. Inslee also vetoed funding for multiple new UW programs and projects, including technology to improve the UW Medicine’s paramedic training program.

However, the UW retained funding for requested one-time bonuses for the UW’s represented employees, as well as the Joint Center for Aerospace Technology and Innovation (JCATI). The UW also retained the foundational support received last session and received additional funds to train sexual assault nurse examiners in rural areas around the state, address sexual misconduct on campus, and increase telemedicine efforts.

Additionally, the University obtained an initial allocation of $10 million for COVID-19 testing at UW Medicine. UW Medicine performs nearly 75 percent of the COVID-19 testing for Washington state, and has now conducted over 50,000 tests. The UW will continue to work closely with state and federal partners on COVID-19 response efforts and remain an integral part of the ongoing fight to slow the virus.

For a comprehensive summary of the Governor’s budget actions, take a look at the “2020 State Supplemental Budgets” brief on the UW Office of Planning & Budgeting Briefs page.

The legislature will likely reconvene for a special session after the next revenue forecast in June to address COVID-19 impacts. Stay tuned for updates.