Earlier this morning, Governor Gregoire introduced the first draft of her 2010 Supplemental Budget, which as expected contained dramatic cuts to several UWKC priorities. A snapshot of some of the most important reductions is listed below. For the full budget document, click here.

It should be stressed that the governor is planning a second budget with a proposed revenue package that would ameliorate some of the cuts, and that she repeatedly stated that the budget did not reflect her values or those of Washington state. However, even with new revenue streams, the best case scenario for many state-funded programs (like GAU) will be simply to survive at a significantly decreased size. She also noted that due to constitutional protections and federal stimulus requirements, attempts to trim the state’s $2.7 billion deficit could only come from minimal places.

Basic Needs and Homelessness Cuts:

*The complete elimination of Basic Health, which provides affordable health insurance to 65,000 low to moderate income Washingtonians.

* The complete elimination of General Assistance for the Unemployable, which provides help to people who are unable to work because of disability. The program is major source of income for the recently homeless.

* The elimination of health insurance coverage for 16,000 lower income children.

* Cuts in benefits for Medicaid clients including vision, podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, prescription drug assistance for elderly patients, hospice care, dental, and maternity support

* The elimination of half of the state funding for WIN 211, the central online and telephone resource directory for all WA social services.

Early Learning and Education Cuts:

* Cuts in funding to send more than 1,500 3-year-olds to preschool.

* A suspension of state support for all-day kindergarten in high-poverty areas.

* A suspension of class size reduction efforts.

* Suspension of a program that equalizes school funding between wealthy and poor school districts.

* Cuts in tuition assistance for over 12,000 lower-income students.

*The disbandment of the Council on Children and Families (CCF), transferring the child abuse and neglect programs to the Department of Social and Health Services and the home visitation programs for infants/toddlers and families to the Department of Early Learning.