With less than two hours to spare, the 2011 legislature adjourned Wednesday, May 25, ending the special session with the House and Senate gaveling the day to a close together with a mixture of relief and celebration.
The final days were marked by exceptionally long hours and closed door sessions, and once a budget agreement was delivered Monday, the pace picked up. It was time to go home.
The 2011-13 operating budget, E2SHB 1087, includes $4.5 billion in reductions and $459 million in transfers, to close a $4.9 billion budget shortfall. It also leaves more than $700 million in reserves.
In many cases, the budget represents a continuation of funding decisions started in the 2009-11 biennial budget, last December’s budget bill (HB 3225) and the early action supplemental budget in February (ESHB 1086).
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Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
