Local state reps request 21M in state dollars for WWU, starting in 2029

Local state representatives are advocating for an additional $21. 4 million in funding for Western Washington University, scheduled to take effect in the 2029–31 biennium. This effort, led by District 42 Reps. Joe Timmons and Alicia Rule, along with District 40 Reps. Alex Ramel and Debra Lekanoff, seeks to address the significant funding disparities that have left Western with the lowest state funding per student among Washington's higher education institutions.

Timmons highlighted the importance of the proposal in providing long-term funding predictability for the university. Concurrently, he is actively working to mitigate a proposed 3% cut to funding for four-year institutions by Governor Bob Ferguson. Western has already made substantial cuts, eliminating 74 positions in various departments to cope with ongoing budget challenges. Nora Selander, the university's director of government relations, called the budget request a vital show of support for reversing historical funding inequities. While immediate investments are unlikely this year, the dialogue surrounding higher education funding is becoming increasingly relevant in Olympia.

The proposed funding would help align Western’s per-student funding with that of Central Washington University, promoting equity across state colleges.