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2013-15 budget compromise increases spending by $2.4 billion, avoids many of the proposed tax increases

The details of the 2013-15 budget compromise have been released. As proposed, near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending would increase by $2.378 billion over 2011-13, to $33.627 billion. Reserves (including the budget stabilization account) would total $630 million. Importantly, the proposal would largely not make the tax increases proposed by the House Finance […]

Budget stalemate is one consequence of the disappearing center in state politics

That's one of the takeaways from my column today. Please take a look at it and share your thoughts in the comments. 

New general fund forecast: up $110 million for 2011-13, up $121 million for 2013-15

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council met today and approved new forecasts for state revenues. For the current 2011-13 biennium, the general fund-state forecast increased by $110 million; the education legacy trust account forecast decreased by $12 million; and the opportunities pathways account forecast increased by $11 million. For the upcoming 2013-15 biennium, the […]

Video of today's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council meeting

Video from TVW: Here are the slides from Steve Lerch’s presentation.

May 11 to June 10 state revenue collections exceeded forecast by $40 million

The economic and revenue forecast council issued its monthly Economic & Revenue Update today. Here are the key bullet points regarding revenue from the summary: Major General Fund-State revenue collections for the May 11 – June 10, 2013 collection period were $40.0 million (2.3%) higher than the March forecast. Of that amount, however, $10.0 million […]

Washington may be agreed on Medicaid expansion, but not all states see the light

One area of agreement in the 2013-15 budget proposals is Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act. Both the House and Senate assume state savings of about $318 million from expansion. Despite the promise of such savings, many states have rejected expansion or are still wrestling with the decision. According to the Kaiser Family […]

Senate increases spending in 2013-15 budget passed Saturday

On Thursday, the House passed a 2013-15 budget (ESHB 1057), and over the weekend, the Senate passed one as well (ESSB 5034). The House version would spend $322.2 million more than the Senate in terms of near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+). The House would leave $593.7 million in total reserves, and the Senate […]

Video of Economic and Revenue Forecast Council economic review meeting

Executive Director Steve Lerch presented the preliminary June economic forecast at a meeting of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council today. Here is the TVW video of the meeting: And here are the “notebooks” for the meeting, including copies of Dr. Lerch’s slides. As I noted in my May 29 post, the new economic forecast […]

New House budget would still spend much more than the Senate on non-education

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee passed the budget proposed by Democrats. As passed, it would spend $525,000 more than proposed, or a total of $2.454 billion more than in 2011-13 (near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways, or NGFS+). After the House and Senate passed different versions of a 2013-15 budget, I wrote about the divergence […]

Public pension gain sharing and COLA cases will be heard together

According to the Department of Retirement Systems, The Washington State Supreme Court has agreed to accept direct review of litigation over discontinuation of annual benefit increases for retirees from two of the state’s older pension plans — and will hear that case in conjunction with arguments over a separate lawsuit related to gain sharing and […]