Education funding task force continues its work; report due Dec. 31

The Joint Task Force on Education Funding met last week to continue its work in finding more money to pay for Washington's K-12 public education system.

The task force must first determine how much the state's basic education system will cost, and identify what they deem a politically feasible and dependable funding source (i.e., an increase in property taxes or extended expiring taxes).

Governor-elect Jay Inslee said during his campaign for Washington's top job that he would not support a raise in property taxes.

Task force chair and Washington Roundtable board member Jeff Vincent presented three scenarios at a Nov. 20 meeting, all of which called for more efficiencies, no new state education programs and no major cuts, but included an increase in certain taxes.

The task force has until Dec. 31 to recommend options, including one preferred alternative, to the state Legislature.