SEATAC, Wash. — As schools open this month and next, the state will be fined $100,000 a day.
That's because lawmakers still will be talking about how to meet the Supreme Court order to fully fund education and end the contempt sanctions the court imposed last week.
Gov. Jay Inslee and with legislative leaders met at SeaTac City Hall this afternoon.
Dan Kristiansen is the Republican leader in the House.
“Making sure that we do this right, rather than quickly I think is what needs to be the priority,” Kristiansen said.
Supreme Court justices suggested a special session so lawmakers could come up with a plan to fully fund lower class sizes and teacher salaries.
But after the meeting, the governor said much work needs to be done, despite three special sessions this year.
“People need to understand it's a very preliminary meeting. Legislators need to go back to the caucuses get a response from the people who actually have to vote for this plan. And we'll have the next meeting in the next several days,” the governor said.
It will take roughly $3 billion extra in every two-year budget to pay for a plan the governor wants.
Possible sources include a complicated property tax scheme, or a capital gains tax on the investments of the wealthy.
And even parents who want good schools are worried about the cost.
“There's no reason to charge more taxes necessarily if they can't pull it together now. You can give an endless amount of money and it's not going to get necessarily better. Just more bureaucracy," said parent Victor Dean.
Asked if he was ready to sacrifice, “Yeah, I truly am,” said parent Ervin Lutu, “I didn't have the benefits of the generation nowadays with technology and stuff like that.
Inslee is working with lawmakers to agree on a plan to meet the court’s order. He’s hoping they’ll agree on something that can be passed in a few hours once he calls a special session.
If it happens, it will the fourth special session for the Washington Legislature. The Secretary of State’s Office says that’s never happened before.
KIRO
