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Lawmakers consider sending Initiative 1351 back to voters

Published  February 14, 2015 9:56am PST
Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers are considering sending the class-size initiative approved by voters last November back to the people.

The Olympian reports budget writers may send Initiative 1351 back to voters to ask them to approve to pay for the measure. Some would like to see the initiative repealed.

Initiative 1351 calls for reducing class sizes in kindergarten through 12th grade. It is projected to cost the state $2 billion over the next two years.

That adds to the already difficult budget problem of how to add at least $1.2 billion to the public school budget to comply with a Supreme Court order to increase education spending.

Some of the McCleary dollars will go toward lowering class sizes but most lawmakers say that won't satisfy the requirements of the voter initiative.