One of the bills labeled "necessary to implement the budget" or NTIB is
HB 1354, which moves the June 2011 apportionment payment to July 1st.
HB 1354, which moves the June 2011 apportionment payment to July 1st.
Both the House and Senate budget writers planned to move $253 million from the 2011 Fiscal Year into the 2011-13 biennium, thereby reducing the need for $253 million more in cuts before the end of June.
House budget chair Ross Hunter, D-Medina, has an amendment on the House floor to reduce the payment shift from $253 million to $128 million. If adopted, it means that school districts will have more money flowing out to them in June than previously expected and less of a hit to the state's general fund for the next two years.
The additional funds were identified through a tax amnesty program offered earlier this year that has brought in more money than anyone expected. Gov. Chris Gregoire suggested using the windfall to pay down the apportionment shift, and it looks like Hunter plans to carry that through when the bill comes up for a vote on the House floor.
