28B.76.210 - Budget priorities and levels of funding -- Guidelines for institutions -- Review and evaluation of budget requests -- Recommendations.

Budget priorities and levels of funding — Guidelines for institutions — Review and evaluation of budget requests — Recommendations.

(1) The board shall collaborate with the four-year institutions including the council of presidents, the community and technical college system, and when appropriate the workforce training and education coordinating board, the superintendent of public instruction, and the independent higher educational institutions to identify budget priorities and levels of funding for higher education, including the two and four-year institutions of higher education and state financial aid programs. It is the intent of the legislature that recommendations from the board reflect not merely the sum of budget requests from multiple institutions, but prioritized funding needs for the overall system of higher education.

     (2) By December of each odd-numbered year, the board shall distribute guidelines which outline the board's fiscal priorities to the institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges.

     (a) The institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges shall submit an outline of their proposed operating budgets to the board no later than July 1st of each even-numbered year. Pursuant to guidelines developed by the board, operating budget outlines submitted by the institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges after January 1, 2007, shall include all policy changes and enhancements that will be requested by the institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges in their respective biennial budget requests. Operating budget outlines shall include a description of each policy enhancement, the dollar amount requested, and the fund source being requested.

     (b) Capital budget outlines for the two-year institutions shall be submitted by August 15th of each even-numbered year, and shall include the prioritized ranking of the capital projects being requested, a description of each capital project, and the amount and fund source being requested.

     (c) Capital budget outlines for the four-year institutions must be submitted by August 15th of each even-numbered year, and must include: The institutions' priority ranking of the project; the capital budget category within which the project will be submitted to the office of financial management in accordance with RCW 43.88D.010; a description of each capital project; and the amount and fund source being requested.

     (d) The office of financial management shall reference these reporting requirements in its budget instructions.

     (3) The board shall review and evaluate the operating and capital budget requests from four-year institutions and the community and technical college system based on how the requests align with the board's budget priorities, the missions of the institutions, and the statewide strategic master plan for higher education under RCW 28B.76.200.

     (4) The board shall submit recommendations on the proposed operating budget and priorities to the office of financial management by October 1st of each even-numbered year, and to the legislature by January 1st of each odd-numbered year.

     (5) The board's capital budget recommendations for the community and technical college system and the four-year institutions must be submitted to the office of financial management and to the legislature by November 15th of each even-numbered year. The board's recommendations for the four-year institutions must include a single, prioritized list of the major projects that the board recommends be funded with state bond and building account appropriations during the forthcoming fiscal biennium. In developing this single prioritized list, the board shall:

     (a) Seek to identify the combination of projects that will most cost-effectively achieve the state's goals. These goals include increasing baccalaureate and graduate degree production, particularly in high-demand fields; promoting economic development through research and innovation; providing quality, affordable educational environments; preserving existing assets; and maximizing the efficient utilization of instructional space;

     (b) Be guided by the objective analysis and scoring of capital budget projects completed by the office of financial management pursuant to chapter 43.88D RCW;

     (c) Anticipate (i) that state bond and building account appropriations continue at the same level during each of the two subsequent fiscal biennia as has actually been appropriated for the baccalaureate institutions during the current one; (ii) that major projects funded for design during a biennium are funded for construction during the subsequent one before state appropriations are provided for new major projects; and (iii) that minor health, safety, code, and preservation projects are funded at the same average level as in recent biennia before state appropriations are provided for new major projects.

     (6) Institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges shall submit any supplemental budget requests and revisions to the board at the same time they are submitted to the office of financial management. The board shall submit recommendations on the proposed supplemental budget requests to the office of financial management by November 1st and to the legislature by January 1st.

[2010 c 245 § 10; 2008 c 205 § 4; 2007 c 458 § 202; 2004 c 275 § 7; 2003 c 130 § 3; 1997 c 369 § 10; 1996 c 174 § 1; 1993 c 363 § 6; 1985 c 370 § 4. Formerly RCW 28B.80.330.]

Notes: Findings -- Expand on demand -- System design plan endorsed -- 2010 c 245: See note following RCW 28B.50.020.

Findings -- Intent -- 2008 c 205: See RCW 43.88D.005.

Part headings not law -- 2007 c 458: See note following RCW 28B.76.050.

Part headings not law -- 2004 c 275: See note following RCW 28B.76.030.

Findings -- Intent -- 2003 c 130: "(1) The legislature finds that:

     (a) At the time the higher education coordinating board was created in 1985, the legislature wanted a board with a comprehensive mission that included planning, budget and program review authority, and program administration;

     (b) Since its creation, the board has achieved numerous accomplishments, including proposals leading to creation of the branch campus system, and has made access and affordability of higher education a consistent priority;

     (c) However, higher education in Washington state is currently at a crossroads. Demographic, economic, and technological changes present new and daunting challenges for the state and its institutions of higher education. As the state looks forward to the future, the legislature, the governor, and institutions need a common strategic vision to guide planning and decision making.

     (2) Therefore, it is the legislature's intent to reaffirm and strengthen the strategic planning role of the higher education coordinating board. It is also the legislature's intent to examine options for reassigning or altering other roles and responsibilities to enable the board to place priority and focus on planning and coordination." [2003 c 130 § 1.]

Findings -- 1993 c 363: "The legislature finds a need to redefine the relationship between the state and its postsecondary education institutions through a compact based on trust, evidence, and a new alignment of responsibilities. As the proportion of the state budget dedicated to postsecondary education programs has continued to decrease and the opportunity for this state's citizens to participate in such programs also has declined, the state institutions of higher education have increasingly less flexibility to respond to emerging challenges through innovative management and programming. The legislature finds that this state has not provided its institutions of higher education with the ability to effectively achieve statewide goals and objectives to increase access to, improve the quality of, and enhance the accountability for its postsecondary education system.

     Therefore, the legislature declares that the policy of the state of Washington is to create an environment in which the state institutions of higher education have the authority and flexibility to enhance attainment of statewide goals and objectives for the state's postsecondary education system through decisions and actions at the local level. The policy shall have the following attributes:

     (1) The accomplishment of equitable and adequate enrollment by significantly raising enrollment lids, adequately funding those increases, and providing sufficient financial aid for the neediest students;

     (2) The development and use of a new definition of quality measured by effective operations and clear results; the efficient use of funds to achieve well-educated students;

     (3) The attainment of a new resource management relationship that removes the state from micromanagement, allows institutions greater management autonomy to focus resources on essential functions, and encourages innovation; and

     (4) The development of a system of coordinated planning and sufficient feedback to assure policymakers and citizens that students are succeeding and resources are being prudently deployed." [1993 c 363 § 1.]

Effective date -- 1993 c 363: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993." [1993 c 363 § 7.]

Industrial project of statewide significance -- Defined: RCW 43.157.010.