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New action on the 2013-15 budget front

Finally we have movement in the 2013-15 budget process. The House Democrats’ have released a new proposal, which Rep. Pat Sullivan called a “substantial compromise.” The proposal would increase near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending by $2.453 billion over 2011-13 and leave $606 million in reserves. It does not tap the budget stabilization […]

Preliminary state economic forecast released

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council today issued the preliminary June economic forecast for the state. The preliminary economic forecast will reviewed at an ERFC meeting on June 6. ERFC staff will then prepare a revenue forecast based on this (possibly revised) economic forecast. The revenue forecast will be reviewed and adopted at an […]

WRC discusses state budget on TVW's Inside Olympia

I join Remy Trupin, executive director of the Washington State Budget and Policy Center, to discuss the budget end game with Inside Olympia host Austin Jenkins. It was a lively half hour. Hope you enjoy it.    

Washington ranks 30th in total school spending per pupil in 2011

A new report from the U.S. Census provides a wealth of data on public school spending. (Links to all the data can be found here.) A look at state revenues and spending per pupil can be found in this spreadsheet, Table 11 from the report. It shows that Washington spent $9,483 per pupil, ranking the state […]

Inslee's three priorities for special session: budget, transportation, DUI

Gov. Inslee has pared his list of special session priorities to three. Gov. Jay Inslee has narrowed his list of top priorities for lawmakers to address in a special session, saying Monday that the Legislature must focus on the operating budget, a transportation-funding package and new legislation to crack down on drunken drivers. As the […]

State revenues exceeded forecast by $57.6 million during April 11 to May 10 collection period

For the second month in a row, state revenue collections have beaten the forecast. Collections for the April 11 to May 10 period beat expectations by $57.6 million. Of this, $29.5 million represents property tax payments. State economists suspect that the positive variance in property taxes will be reversed in the May 11–June 10 collection […]

Oregon Medicaid study inconclusive on benefits, warrants caution on expansion

We previously wrote on the results of a closely-watched Medicaid study in Oregon. Avik Roy has taken a second look at the results (we linked to his earlier piece also). He’s not encouraged. . . . the Oregon findings are even worse than they look. Here’s why. 1. 40 percent of those who ‘won’ the […]

Assumptions gap complicates budget negotiations

In The News Tribune today, Jordan Schrader writes about how the House has some work to do on its budget even before considering the Senate’s proposal: As lawmakers debate how much money to spend on schools and state government, the budget proposal by House Democrats represents the high-water mark — one that even they cannot […]

U.S. Senate passes Internet sales tax bill, still big hurdle in the House

On a strong bipartisan vote, 69-27, the U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, or what most of us just call a bill requiring online retailers to collect sales taxes. Mashable has a short, clear explanation of the legislation and why it’s necessary. So does the National Conference of State Legislatures, which strongly supported […]

Florida legislature rejects Medicaid expansion; states seek flexibility

The Florida legislature rejected Medicaid expansion, despite support from Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Sara Kliff, writing at the Washington Post’s Wonk Blog, notes that Scott’s not the only Republican governor trying to persuade his Legislature to accept the money that comes with the deal. In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich (R) is having trouble moving the Medicaid expansion […]