The workforce education investment account (WEIA, a fund subject to the outlook) may be used “only for higher education programs, higher education operations, higher education compensation, state-funded student aid programs, and workforce development” (RCW 43.79.201). Until last year, WEIA expenditures were statutorily required to supplement, not supplant, other funding for higher education.

The enacted 2025–27 operating budget amended the statute to allow the WEIA to supplant other funding in 2025–27. Then, the budget supplanted $400.0 million of unspecified University of Washington general fund–state (GFS) appropriations with WEIA funds. The budget also used the WEIA for various employee compensation changes that had previously been funded by the GFS.

Gov. Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental operating budget proposal would use the WEIA to supplant $50.0 million in GFS funding for the community and technical college system. Additionally, the proposal for The Evergreen State College would shift $47,000 from the GFS to the WEIA for “Prison to Postsecondary Ed Shift.” (Because this is would be a maintenance level change, there is no explanation provided in any of the public budget documents.)

Overall, Gov. Ferguson’s proposal would increase 2025–27 WEIA appropriations by $115.1 million (7.3%). Of that, $58.7 million is maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted for caseload and inflation) and $56.4 million is new policy.

In addition to the $50.0 million shift from GFS to WEIA for UW, the proposal would appropriate $15.0 million from WEIA for UW’s Center for Behavioral Health and Learning (on top of the $15 million appropriated in the biennial budget). It would save $10.0 million from capturing a projected underspend from the Washington College Grant, even as the maintenance level includes $51.2 million for increases in the Washington College Grant caseload.

(Prior posts on the governor’s proposals are here.)