The University of Washington’s 2025–27 operating budget request is just 2.1% above 2023–25 general fund–state (GFS) appropriations. However, the request includes substantial maintenance and policy increases that are offset by a large carry-forward level reduction. (See the box at the bottom of this post for budget and fund terminology.)

The carry-forward level is reduced by a net of $159.5 million. Of that, $140.0 million is due to the removal of additional state support for the UW hospitals that was appropriated in 2023–25 and meant to be one-time. Another $20.0 million is removed for state support of the UW’s behavioral health teaching facility (the amount was appropriated in 2024 and also meant to be one-time).

UW’s maintenance level request includes $40.0 million in 2025–27 and $40.0 million in 2027–29 to make the state support for the behavioral health teaching facility ongoing. According to the request, without the state funding, “UW Medicine would not be able to operate these [long-term civil commitment] beds starting in FY26, nor fulfill the teaching and training mission of the new facility.” The facility opened in June 2024 and has 75 long-term civil commitment beds. The request includes a May 2024 letter from the Office of Financial Management to the Legislature stating “the governor’s commitment to provide funding to meet the needs of individuals in the state’s care and the importance to the state of following through with funding for this new facility.”

The maintenance level request also includes $25.8 million in 2025–27 and $25.8 million in 2027–29 to use the GFS instead of the UW building account for building maintenance and operations. (The community and technical colleges system is requesting the same fund shift.)

At the policy level, UW is requesting $67.1 million in 2025–27 and $90.0 million in 2027–29 so that the state is fully funding compensation, benefits and central services. (Western made a similar request.) This item would also extend the collective bargaining agreements with state employees to UW’s non-represented faculty and professional staff.

Additionally, UW is requesting $29.5 million in 2025–27 and $36.7 million in 2027–29 to pay for the CBA that UW negotiated with its academic student employees.

(Previous posts on 2025–27 agency requests are here. Our reports on the projected 2025–27 budget shortfall are here and here.)