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Davis column: Hard to do priority budgeting if you don't set priorities

My column this week suggests that the presidents of the six four-year colleges should have complied with the governor’s budget office and shown the effects of a 15 percent budget cut.  They prefer to paint with broad brushstrokes as they make a strong case against any further reductions in the higher education budget. I write, […]

McCleary, I-1351, and budgeting choices

Budgeting is fundamentally about choices. The McCleary decision and the prospect of I-1351 are making this plainly evident to many. Last week the League of Education Voters decided to oppose I-1351. Even though they supported a previous class size reduction initiative (I-728), LEV said, We know there is no single silver bullet that will close […]

Class size Initiative 1351: Threat to safety net and higher education, yet no organized opposition

Seattle Times columnist and editorial board member Erik Smith writes that despite its $4.7 billion price tag with no funding attached, Initiative 1351 seems to be sliding to the November ballot with no significant opposition. This is all the more surprising because, as Smith points out, when informed arguments are presented, even those most predisposed to […]

Seattle and King County budget proposals and revenue questions

On Monday, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine each released their 2015-16 budget proposals. Murray proposes a budget that would total $4.8 billion per year. General fund spending would account for about $1 billion of that, an increase of 3.5 percent over 2014. The proposal does not include new revenue. Even […]

More 2015-17 budget links (plus an updated outlook)

First, as part of our 2015-17 budget preview policy brief, we included a chart showing the projected new revenues and spending needs for the biennium. It was based on one from the Office of Financial Management. I’ve updated the chart to reflect new information from OFM: And now to the links: 1. Contract negotiations with […]

2015-17 budget links

1. From The News Tribune, “I-1351: A major threat to safety net, higher ed.” Innocuous as it sounds, it is a grave threat to Washington’s safety net – to funding for foster children, early learning, homeless families, foster children and the mentally ill. If approved, it could also push the Legislature to further cannibalize the […]

New general fund–state revenue forecast: up $163 million for 2013–15 biennium; up $143 million for 2015–17 biennium

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) held its quarterly meeting today. The forecast of general fund–state revenue for the current biennium (2013–15) increased by $162.5 million to $33,331.9 million. The forecast of general fund-state revenue for the upcoming biennium (2015–17) increased by $143.0 million to $36,078.2 million. These increases were a bit smaller […]

Davis column on contempt ruling: "Court finesses crisis it created"

In my column today, I examine the state Supreme Court’s decision to find the state in contempt. We blogged about the decision here. The court chose to give lawmakers one more chance before imposing “sanctions and remedies.” It was the smart, face-saving move given the circumstances. But the court never should have forced the issue. Having […]

Budgeting and education

In the Everett Herald, Jerry Cornfield writes about Initiative 1351, which would reduce class sizes for kindergarten through 12th grade. Actually, current law already requires class size reduction for K-3. I-1351 would move up some of that spending, but it mostly mandates spending over and above what is already required under current law and McCleary. […]

August 11 – September 10 state revenue collections were $25.8 million above forecast

Yesterday the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council issued its monthly Economic and Revenue Update. Here are the key bullets on revenue from the summary: Major General Fund-State revenue collections for the August 11 – September 10, 2014 collection period were $25.8 million (2.2%) higher than the June forecast. Cumulatively, collections are now $115.1 million (3.1%) […]