Amid historic general state reductions to university funding by the Legislature this year, some federal economic stimulus money allocations have already been signed into law by the governor and will provide some actual growth to selected WSU research and extension programs.
Most federal stimulus funding (American Reinvestment & Recovery Act) for the university will be awarded directly by federal agencies through new competitive research grants. WSU researchers have already submitted more than 90 research proposals directly to federal agencies totaling requests for nearly $60 million. And many more applications are being prepared by WSU.
But tens of millions of dollars in federal stimulus money flows through the state government rather than federal agencies. It was allocated by the bills passed by the Legislature last month. Many of those bills have been signed by the governor this month and will be fully implemented with the upcoming signing of the state budgets.
Whether delivered from the federal or state government, these economic stimulus funds all come with strings attached to Washington, D.C. The U.S. government’s reporting requirements on these federal stimulus dollars are going to be detailed and will place great responsibility on the state and agencies like WSU.
Gregoire is required to report on the outcomes of all federal stimulus money that ends up in the state, regardless of whether it passed through state government or not. The first comprehensive quarterly report by the governor is due Oct. 10, addressing cumulative activity back to last May. WSU has already been put on notice by the governor’s staff that it should begin efforts to assist in the preparation of quarterly reports. In addition, the federal government will require an annual report.
Energy legislation
The program may also address issues such as lighting and hot water efficiency. WSU must coordinate and collaborate with the Department of Commerce in the design, administration and implementation elements of the pilot programs. The agency name, “Department of Commerce,” will be made official Friday when the governor signs House Bill 2242, reorganizing the former state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
Other provisions of ESSB 5649 managed exclusively by the new department will provide similar assistance to families under the 200 percent poverty threshold. Sponsors such as alliances of businesses, organizations and/or cities would provide matching funds for the pilots and directly hire contractors to do the work for homeowners.
ESSB 5649 passed the House 63-34 on April 16 and the Senate 30-17 on April 21. The bill was signed by the governor on May 7 with a partial veto of duplicative language. The bill gives a preference to hiring workers trained under the provisions of the Evergreen Jobs legislation, ESHB 2227, which is currently getting close scrutiny by the governor before she acts on the bill.
Tuition & financial aid
The Legislature appeared to be poised to raise tuition 7 percent per year. But even factoring that in, WSU appears to have received a $54 million biennial cut for next biennium instead of a $90 million cut because of federal stimulus funding and other policies for financial aid and budget stabilization.