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 […]
February 23 , 2024 - Emily Makings
Committees approve modest changes to operating budget proposals
On Wednesday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee amended and approved the supplemental operating budgets proposed by their respective chairs. Amendments adopted in Ways & Means increased appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $11.9 million compared to the chair’s original proposal. (I wrote about the chair’s proposal […]
February 20 , 2024 - Emily Makings
Comparing policy changes in the Senate and House operating budget proposals
The Senate chair’s supplemental operating budget proposal would increase 2023–25 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $1.854 billion; the House chair’s proposal would increase appropriations by $2.196 billion. Those figures are composed of maintenance level changes (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted for enrollment and inflation) and new policy. (All spending […]
February 19 , 2024 - Emily Makings
House chair’s supplemental operating budget would increase appropriations by 3.1%
The House Appropriation Committee chair’s proposed supplemental operating budget would increase 2023–25 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $2.196 billion (3.1%). That’s $342.0 million more than the Senate chair’s proposal and $233.4 million more than Gov. Inslee’s proposal. Revised 2023–25 NGFO appropriations under the House chair’s proposal would be $72.000 billion. (I […]
February 19 , 2024 - Emily Makings
Senate chair’s operating budget proposal would increase appropriations by 2.7%
The 2024 supplemental operating budget proposal from the Senate Ways & Means Committee Chair would increase 2023–25 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $1.854 billion (2.7%). Revised NGFO appropriations for 2023–25 would be $71.658 billion. (That’s $108.6 million less than had been proposed by Gov. Inslee.) The proposal would not increase revenues. […]
February 16 , 2024 - Emily Makings
The state’s gross fuel tax revenue forecast appears to be on autopilot
The Feb. 2024 transportation revenue forecast estimates that transportation revenues (including, e.g., revenues from motor vehicle fuel taxes; licenses, permits, and fees; ferries; and tolls) will be $6.990 billion in 2023–25. That’s an increase of 0.01% compared to the Nov. 2023 forecast and a decrease of 0.79% compared to the March 2023 forecast (on which […]
February 16 , 2024 - Emily Makings
Legislative budget writers have more revenues to work with than the governor; it’s unclear how today’s caseload forecast will affect spending
As Kriss noted on Wednesday, the Feb. 2024 forecast of revenues from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) was increased by $337 million over the outlook period (this biennium and next). That figure is compared to the Nov. 2023 revenue forecast, on which the governor based his 2024 supplemental operating budget proposal. Compared to the […]
February 15 , 2024 - Emily Makings
Senate supplemental capital budget proposal would increase 2023–25 appropriations by 14.7% and would take a measured approach to the use of uncertain funds
This morning, the Senate supplemental capital budget proposal was released by Ways & Means Capital Budget Vice Chair Mullet and Ranking Member Schoesler. (It is scheduled to be heard by Ways & Means this afternoon.) It would increase capital budget appropriations by $1.277 billion (14.7%). Revised 2023–25 capital budget appropriations would be $9.938 billion, which […]
February 15 , 2024 - Emily Makings
A reduction to the capital gains revenue forecast, and some budget context
During yesterday’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) meeting, ERFC Executive Director Dave Reich said that the capital gains revenue forecast was adjusted down because of a double count in fiscal year 2024 and a coding error by the Department of Revenue. As a result, compared to the November 2023 forecast, revenues from the capital […]
February 09 , 2024 - Emily Makings
Unemployment insurance for striking workers?
Currently, striking workers are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in Washington. SB 5777 would make striking workers eligible for UI at the earlier of the Sunday following the first day of the strike or the date the strike ends. Additionally, under current law, employees who are represented by a multi-employer bargaining unit are ineligible […]