Emily Makings

Washington’s workers’ compensation benefit costs are still the highest in the country

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), Washington’s workers’ compensation benefit costs per covered worker are still the nation’s highest. Benefit costs in Washington were $849.67 per covered worker in 2021 (up from $824.53 in 2020). The second highest was $772.41 per covered worker in Wyoming. As a share of covered wages, benefit […]

New policy in the operating budget conference report would increase appropriations by $1.036 billion

The conference report for the supplemental operating budget would increase 2023–25 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $2.143 billion. That includes maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted for enrollment and inflation) changes and new policy. The maintenance level is estimated to increase by $1.107 billion. (The earlier House- and […]

Supplemental transportation budget conference report would increase appropriations by 8.1%, add language addressing cost challenges

The conference report for the supplemental transportation budget would increase appropriations from all budgeted funds by $1.099 billion (8.1%). Revised 2023–25 appropriations would be $14.714 billion, which is $24.3 million higher than the version passed by the Senate Feb. 27 and $252.0 million higher than the version passed by the House Feb. 24. (I wrote […]

Operating budget compromise would transfer WRPTA balance to NGFO, increase NGFO appropriations by 3.1%

The conference report for the supplemental operating budget would increase appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $2.143 billion (3.1%). Revised 2023–25 NGFO appropriations would be $71.947 billion, which would be 15.8% higher than actual spending in 2021–23. The spending change in the conference supplemental is $78.6 million less than in the House-passed […]

Compromise supplemental capital budget would increase appropriations by 15.4%

The proposed supplemental capital budget would increase 2023–25 appropriations from all funds by $1.336 billion (15.4%). That’s $33.9 million more than was in the version that passed the Senate on Feb. 22 and $61.4 million more than was in the version that was approved by the House Capital Budget Committee on Feb. 23 (the full […]

Could unexpectedly high pension investment returns help to fund transportation?

The state pension system’s investments earned $22 billion more than expected in fiscal year 2021. These gains will be factored in to the calculations of contribution rates over time. All else equal, contribution rates will decline. That means savings for the state and local employers in the system. At the same time, as we’ve written, […]

Legislature passes bill making long-term care benefits portable

The Legislature has passed SHB 2467, which would allow employees who move out of state to continue to participate in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) trust program. The House passed the bill on Feb. 12 and the Senate passed it (with no amendments) yesterday. (A broader bill that would make benefits portable as well […]

Senate-passed transportation budget would appropriate $227.7 million more than the House-passed budget

The House and Senate have each passed supplemental transportation budgets. The House-passed budget would increase 2023–25 appropriations from all funds by $846.5 million, bringing revised 2023–25 appropriations to $14.462 billion. The Senate-passed supplemental would increase appropriations from all funds by $1.074 billion, bringing revised 2023–25 appropriations to $14.690 billion. The two proposals do not quite […]

The Senate- and House-passed operating budgets are $354.9 million apart

The Senate and House have each passed their respective supplemental operating budgets. The House-passed budget would appropriate $354.9 million more than the Senate-passed budget, in terms of funds subject to the outlook (NGFO). The Senate-passed budget would increase 2023–25 NGFO appropriations by $1.867 billion (2.7% over enacted appropriations) and the House-passed budget would increase 2023–25 […]

How the budget proposals treat climate commitment act funds

Appropriations from carbon emission allowance auctions are split among the operating, capital, and transportation budgets. A major thread connecting the three budgets this year is how to plan for the possibility that voters could approve I-2117 this fall. The initiative would repeal the climate commitment act, which would mean no auction proceeds to appropriate going […]