PULLMAN, WA – Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is proposing significant cuts to Washington State University in his plan to deal with the state’s budget crisis.

Ferguson announced his spending cut plan on Thursday which tries to grapple with an expected 15 billion dollar shortfall over the next four years.  The Democrat is calling for 3% state funding cuts to higher education and furloughs for most state workers.  The proposal would cut WSU state funding by 21.6 million dollars over the next two years.  Former Governor Jay Inslee proposed an 800,000 dollar cut to WSU in Decmeber.  Ferguson is proposing to partially fund WSU’s request for cost of living raises for faculty and staff.  He does not support the state paying for WSU’s contract with the student workers union that was reached in January of last year.  WSU workers would have a dozen furlough days over the next two years under Ferguson’s plan.

Majority Democrats in the Washington State House and Senate haven’t released their budget plans yet.