Comment for CWU BoT 17 October, 2024
Chair Black, President Wohlpart, and Trustees, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. The Public School Employees of Washington higher education zone, consisting of our chapter and the chapters at Western and Eastern, recently conducted a survey in which we asked our members to share their experiences trying to get by on a public employee’s salary in Ellensburg. We did this survey to help inform our planned higher education lobbying at Olympia in the coming session, but I think it’s important to share with you the feedback we got. Our leadership and many of our members are well aware of the university’s financial situation (Joel does his best to make sure of that), but there’s another side of it that is important to share, too. I’ll be emailing a PDF with CWU’s full results of the survey and a little supplemental information, but here are a few of the highlights: ● About half of those surveyed have nothing to put into savings each month ● Over two thirds have disposable income under $200 a month, with a quarter reporting no disposable income. ● Almost two thirds of respondents reported “nearly always” or “frequently” struggling to meet basic necessities or relying on assistance programs. ● The same number reported “nearly always” or “frequently” having anxiety about their finances. ● A majority reported having supplemental income – like second jobs or side hustles. ● Nearly all have seriously considered leaving Central, and all are at least open to the idea. As I expect you know, salary rates at Central have increased only with the state salary schedule, in the low single figure percentages each year. Meanwhile, inflation has surged almost 25% in the past five years, and over 33% in the past 10 – bringing the minimum wage up along with it. You may also be aware that the New York Times recently ranked Ellensburg the eighth-most expensive micropolitan area (cities & towns 10,000-50,000) in the nation.
As I mentioned, you’ll be getting the full results by email, I just need to press send.
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