We finished our business on time this year, adjourning just before midnight on the 60th day. The most-publicized matter before us was finding a compromise on the supplemental operating budget. We reached agreement on a modest no-new-taxes budget that protects our safety net and makes some significant investments, such as:
• Funding to make services available for 5,000 more people with developmental disabilities.
• $11.7 million in additional funding for desperately needed mental health services.
• $58 million in extra money for K-12 schools for books, technology and supplies.
We also managed to keep in place a hard cap on college-tuition increases for at least another year. And we ensured there will be funding for the University Center of North Puget Sound, located on the Everett Community College campus.
Also worth noting is passage of the Dream Act, a milestone in making sure that deserving, hard-working students have a fair chance to go to college.
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