Dorn: Superintendent's office defying budget-cut order

The Associated Press • Published September 29, 2011 Modified September 29, 2011

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Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn has told Gov. Chris Gregoire that his office won’t submit a budget proposal, saying that her orders to cut another 10 percent to education violate the state constitution.

Seeing a sinking revenue forecast, Gregoire has ordered all agencies to cut their budgets 10 percent. Lawmakers are returning to Olympia in November for a special session to deal with another shortfall that could grow to $2 billion.

The state Office of Financial Management is putting together supplemental budgets for state agencies, using input from them. Dorn said he has ordered his staffers not to submit recommendations, although he says they’re available to work with budget writers.

Dorn maintains that cuts to full-day kindergarten and class-size reduction for high-poverty schools, among others, are unconstitutional.

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