OLYMPIA — The state Legislature’s special session ended Wednesday, but Sen. Jim Hargrove still has some work to do.
The Hoquiam Democrat, who represents the 24th Legislative District that includes the North Olympic Peninsula, said he is taking a close look at performance audits of state agencies to identify waste that can be eliminated.
He is doing that in preparation for regular session that starts next month.
“We’re looking for small as well as big [changes],” said Hargrove, who is working with Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, on the issue.
“If there’s a little bit of waste, there’s still waste.”
Less waste means fewer cuts.
And with the state still facing a budget shortfall of about $1 billion, every dollar is needed to help maintain crime-prevention programs, Hargrove believes, which he said save money in the long run.
“It’s not really a cut if it just topples into our criminal justice system,” he said.
A way Hargrove has sought to reduce crime is by funding mental health services.
But the state senator acknowledged that not all legislation aimed at providing those services can be saved, including one to expand the number of people receiving involuntary treatment.
The Legislature has voted to delay implementation of such treatment, by adopting House Bill 2131.
Hargrove introduced its companion bill in the Senate.
“I’m not very excited about it,” he said, adding that the bill can’t be effective if the state “doesn’t have anymore beds.”
The Legislature reduced the projected shortfall by $480 million during the special session that began Nov. 28 and ended last week.
It made a variety of cuts to state agencies, including 10 percent for administration at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and a $2.6 million reduction for the state Department of Ecology.
Also included were some simple accounting changes such as delaying school bus payments.
Hargrove, and the North Olympic Peninsula’s two other representatives, Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, and Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, said such a move isn’t a sufficient solution.
But they also defended it by saying delayed payments give the Legislature some time to work.
“Hopefully in January, we will have a pretty good idea of how this is going to look,” Tharinger said.
Neither House member expected the entire shortfall to be patched during the special session.
“Anything we got done would be impressive,” Van De Wege said, referring to the 30-day limit to the session.
When the Legislature reconvenes Jan. 9, Tharinger said, he will focus on preserving rural health care.
Van De Wege said he is looking at ways to improve the state park’s Discover Pass.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
