Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director
(360) 956-3482

Notes on I-728 and I-732

The Washington Education Association is spending millions of dollars to raise Cain about the possible freeze on funding for education Initiatives 728 and 732. Union officials say voters are being betrayed and thwarted. Is this true? Statements in the 2000 Voter Guide published by the Secretary of State show that these initiatives were billed to voters as surplus measures that would not require additional state revenue if approved (emphasis added below):

Initiative 728 (K-12 and class size reduction)

• "Without raising taxes, I-728 lets schools reduce class sizes, expand learning opportunities, increase teacher training, invest in early childhood education, and build classrooms for K-12 and higher education."

• "We can afford to invest in our schools and our future without raising taxes or taking money away from other programs. I-728 is funded by lottery proceeds, surplus state revenues and by returning a portion of state property taxes to local school districts."

• "I-728 is both necessary and fiscally sound. It invests surplus revenues in education without hurting the state budget."

• "I-728 does not raise taxes. I-728 maintains ample reserves and funding for other state services."

Initiative 732 (automatic cost-of-living increases for teachers)

• "With a $1.1 billion surplus, let's use existing resources for more competitive salaries."

Statements opposing I-728 and I-732:

• "I-732 adds no state revenue – it only consumes more of existing resources."

• "I-728 would remove $2 billion from the state's general fund over the next six years."

• "The governor's budget office projects basic expenditure needs will exceed state revenues in the next biennium. I-728 takes a bad budget outlook and makes it much worse, requiring cuts in services or tax increases to meet basic needs."

Update
WEA campaign riles Democratic allies (Seattle Times 4/17/03)

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org