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Tag: Productivity Board

Heritage Center, election bills top Wyman’s wishlist

Heritage Center, election bills top Wyman’s wishlist

Resuming the Washington State Heritage Center project and enacting election improvements are the centerpieces of new Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s legislative package. Wyman unveiled her 2013 legislative agenda in her office Friday morning during a gathering with members of the Capitol Press Corps. Wyman introduced several division directors and most of her executive team during the informal get-together with the media. The Heritage Center, which would house the State Archives, State Library, historical exhibits, an educational center and other…

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WA lawmakers button down hard-times session

WA lawmakers button down hard-times session

Washington lawmakers are heading back to their home districts after completing a brutal recession-era 135-day session.  Budget cutbacks, including salaries of state employees and teachers and budgets of virtually every area of government, were the rule of the day as lawmakers grappled with a budget gap of billions. Cuts and freezes totaling $4.6 billion will affect K-12, higher education, “safety  net” programs, and a variety of state services, from parks to prisons.  The $32 billion two-year budget takes effect July…

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State budget deal: cuts and more cuts

State budget deal: cuts and more cuts

As Washington struggles to emerge from the deepest recession in 80 years, lawmakers have reached an 11th-hour budget deal for the next two years, cutting expenses in virtually every sector of state government. The $32.2 billion plan, hammered out behind closed doors by negotiators from all four caucuses, relies on nearly $4.6 billion in spending cuts, including $1.2 billion saved by not funding two voter-approved education initiatives.  Other monster cuts are higher education, $535 million, offset by an expected $376…

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WA Senate releases bipartisan budget plan

WA Senate releases bipartisan budget plan

The Washington Senate has released a bipartisan budget plan for the next two years, a $32.1 billion proposal that closes a multibillion-dollar spending gap with a broad array of spending cuts and freezes, but no new general taxes. For the first time in memory, the proposal was rolled out by both the majority budget chairman, Democrat Ed Murray of Seattle, and the ranking minority budget leader, Republican Joe Zarelli of Ridgefield.  They said it reflects views of a majority of…

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Three cheers for money-saving state workers

Three cheers for money-saving state workers

Secretary of State Sam Reed, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, Attorney General Rob McKenna and other state officials helped honor more than 30 state employees at the Innovations in State Government Awards ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda Wednesday. Among the honorees were eight employees who helped  the Office of the State Actuary earn the Agency of the Year award by achieving $220,000 in first-year savings alone.

Money: How can we save it?

Money: How can we save it?

With the state operating budget in serious trouble and Gov. Gregoire and the Legislature looking for ways to reduce spending and streamline programs, it only makes sense to encourage state workers to offer ideas on how to save money. That’s exactly what the state Productivity Board does. Since 1982, this board has provided a way for front-line state employees to suggest such ideas, and to be recognized for their efforts.  To the left is the latest flyer from the board that encourages workers to share their…

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