While the state operating budget gets lots of attention in Olympia and in the media, very few really know how it gets put together and all the vagaries in it.  Most people focus on the spending in the main areas of government–K-12, human services, higher education, health care, etc., which is natural.  However, the back of the budget has few numbers but a lot of policy.

Take a look at sections 942 – 946 in the House of Representatives version of SB 5034, the operating budget bill.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Amendments/House/5034-S.E%20AMH%20ENGR%20H2378.E.pdf

Section 942 of the budget deals with public employee compensation.  This section gives most public employees a 1% raise if the state collects $200 million more in Feb. 2014 over Sept. 2012.  This is not listed in any of the particular state agency budgets but could cost millions if implemented.  Of course, if it is implemented it means that the state economy is doing well.

Sections 943-946 deal with information technology purchasing, acquisition, spending and IT security.  Section 943 spends over $41 million on various technology related state projects.  Much of this IT spend will occur in the state and WTIA members and others will get IT business from the state.  Most of this IT spending is required by statute or to implement new federal and state requirements.

Sections 944-945 lay out policies for IT purchasing and acquisition.  Section 946 deals with IT security and training.  In years past, too many state IT projects have come in over budget and way past due.  The legislature, along with the State CIO have developed new policies and procedures to ensure that state IT projects are on track.  The state CIO is a long time veteran of Washington’s tech sector.  Check their website: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/ocio/default.asp and their February 2012 technology strategy: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/ocio/technology_strategy_022312.pdf

 WTIA is pleased to see attention brought to how the state spends money on IT.  As much as we like Washington based companies to get state business, we are more concerned about a state that spends money on priorities, such as K-12 and higher education.