Governor's budget a boon to educators, mental healthcare

Services for seniors raise concern

COLUMBIA BASIN — Educators and mental health care services appear to be the winners in Gov. Christine Gregoire's budget proposal, one that some Republicans and senior service organizations are fighting.

Gregoire's budget has set aside roughly $11 billion for public schools to reduce class sizes and raise cost-of-living increases for teachers as well as $3 billion for higher education to fund additional slots for undergraduates and increase financial aid offerings.

Steve Chestnut, superintendent for the Moses Lake School District, said he was also glad to see the proposals presented in both Gregoire's budget and that of the Senate. "I know they have a restricted budget, but I think K-12 education is the paramount duty of state government, so it was nice to see it reflected in her budget and the Senate budget," he said.

Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, echoed his statements, saying after the $82 million in cuts that former Gov. Gary Locke had proposed, it was a relief to see both the governor's and Senate's budget proposals that include more money for health care services and education.

Sharon Kiehn, director at Grant Mental Health Care in Moses Lake, said she was pleased with the budget and hopes the House will do the same in addressing the needs for mental health services in the state. "We've had great support from our legislators," said Kiehn, who prior to the Gregoire's budget proposal had concern about the impact a lack of funds would have on some 650 people in Grant County alone.

Representatives from senior service agencies, however, are not so relieved.

"We have a duty as a society to provide for the elderly and infirmed and I am concerned when I see government action does not meet that need," said Bruce Buckles, executive director for Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington.

Buckles said in the last 20 years there has been a huge drop in the amount spent on geriatric health which in combination with health care inflation and an increasing elderly population will lead to an even bigger health care crisis. "I think we are facing as a society a great movement if not a political agenda by some to diminish the value of those who are elderly and the showing of that is how much we're willing to provide for their needs and their care."

Some Republicans like Tom Dent, Chairman of the Grant County Republicans, said Gregoire's budget continues to perpetuate a negative atmosphere for economic growth and business owners. "You're not going to stimulate the business environment by increasing taxes," Dent, who is a business owner himself, said. "The state of Washington is very business unfriendly; we've lost people right here in Moses Lake and the ones that are still here are rooted in their communities and we just can't leave our businesses."

On the other side of the issue, Democrats feel it is time to reinstate funds that have been cut or ignored for education and health care services.

"I believe it has to be done this way," said Don McDowall, a member of the Grant County Democrats. "Last time when the Republicans were in charge of the Senate they cut out all the programs that helped the poor and elderly and that doesn't work — sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet."

While local Legislative representatives seem agreeable to Gregoire's budget, they also raised concern about the effect on taxpayers and the need to look at policy changes.

Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, said while he was pleased to see the $80 million backfill for mental health, the ripple effect of transferring the burden to taxpayers doesn't please him or his fellow lawmakers. "Some of the taxes with tobacco and estates, that's kind of like adding to insult to injury," he said.

Considering services for senior citizens made up a small portion of Gregoire's budget, Hinkle said he wants voters back home and throughout the state to know the problem must not be ignored. "I want to make it real clear I don't want us to harm those people that are seeking to have services at home and are better served at home."

Senator Joyce Mulliken, R-Ephrata, raised the idea of looking more at policy changes rather than continuing to increase funding. "Sometimes money is part of the solution, but not always, and sometimes we can actually make policy changes with less money and still serve the mental health needs of people in our county and state," she said.