BLYN — Two North Olympic Peninsula representatives in the state Legislature addressed recent budget cuts, continued budget shortfalls and some of their own accomplishments in the last legislative session at a Clallam County Democratic Party meeting Saturday.
Sen. James Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, told about 30 people at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center that the state Legislature will hold a special session in October to balance the budget if state revenue reports continue not to meet projections.
Van De Wege and Hargrove — along with House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam — represent the 24th District, which covers Clallam, Jefferson and part of Grays Harbor counties.
Just two months after the Legislature made $4 billion in cuts to balance the July 2009-July 2011 budget, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council said in a report last week that revenue for the current budget is projected to drop by about $185 million and an additional $297 million in the upcoming biennial budget.
“We will have a special session if things continue to get worse,” Hargrove said.
The Legislature also used its reserves and about $3 billion in federal stimulus money to bridge the funding gap for the next budget.
Cuts, not taxes
Van De Wege said the Legislature would balance the budget through more spending cuts rather than increasing revenue through taxes.
“Everything would be on the table,” he said.
Due to budget cuts, Van De Wege said Legislators are having to furlough their own staff, so they may be slow to return phone calls from their constituents this summer.
“August will be a slow month for response,” he said.
Gov. Chris Gregoire last week ordered cabinet agencies to cut payroll expenses by 2 percent and continue bans on equipment purchases, travel and contractors, in response to the revenue report.
If the state uses its reserves to cover the projection for decrease in revenue, it would have about $53 million left in its rainy day fund, Hargrove said.
“It sounds like a lot, but it’s a tiny part of the budget,” he said.
State corrections
After he spoke to the group, Hargrove told the Peninsula Daily News that he would push for two bills to reduce the costs to the state Department of Corrections if a special session is called.
One would require illegal immigrants who are sentenced to prison to be deported immediately.
Another would give judges more flexibility in ordering less prison time for convicts.
Hargrove, who is the chairman of the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee, said those two bills would save the state between $70 million and $80 million annually.
“I want to make sure that none of the prevention programs get cut,” he said, adding that reducing funding for those programs would transfer the costs to Corrections through higher crime.
Van De Wege said that funding for widening U.S. Highway 101 between Shore and Kitchen-Dick roads in Clallam County is in the upcoming biennial budget and construction will begin in 2011.
The project will be completed in 2013, he said.
In response to a question from the audience, Hargrove said he would not support decriminalization of illegal drugs because it would provide less incentive for people to seek treatment.
In the next legislative session, Hargrove said he will continue to promote the use of timber products as a more environmentally friendly alternative to other building materials.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
