When Gov. Inslee proposed his 2016 supplemental budget, he also proposed a teacher recruitment and retention plan. We take a look at it in a new policy brief: Gov. Inslee’s Teacher Shortage Proposal: Good Policy, Bad Timing?

Briefly:

• Gov. Inslee proposes increasing salaries for teachers and other school staff.
• Newer teachers would get the largest salary increases.
• A survey of principals shows there is a shortage of teachers in Washington.
• Focusing salary increases on newer teachers is a good idea within the current salary schedule.
• The proposal would complicate efforts to reform teacher pay required by McCleary.
• The proposal would apply the use tax to extracted fuel (except hog fuel).
• It would require nonresidents to apply for a sales tax refund rather than receive an immediate exemption.
• It would apply the sales tax to bottled water.
• It would apply the real estate excise tax to certain foreclosures.