The Art of Budget Cutting
We're already at the end of February, which means the legislature has only four months to close out the 2009-11 budget. There's a lot of work ahead, but let's start the week with the funnies.
February 25 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Supplementing Some More
A week ago, Gov. Gregoire signed the fourth 2009-11 supplemental budget into law. Our policy brief on what’s included is available here. Taking into account the governor’s vetoes, the supplemental reduces the remaining NGFS shortfall by $361 million. Unfortunately, four rounds and cumulative spending cuts totaling $1.1 billion later, the 2009-11 budget is still not […]
February 24 , 2011 - Kriss Sjoblom
Preliminary March Economic Forecast
The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council posted the Preliminary March Economic Forecast today. The summary memo from Arun Raha (ERFC Executive Director) to the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors is here; calendar year tables are here; fiscal year tables are here. With regards to the national economy Raha’s memo has this good news: The near-term […]
February 23 , 2011 - Richard S. Davis
Competing to deliver public services …
That’s the theme of my column this morning, which also considers some recent activity in Wisconsin (you might have read about the collective bargainng flap there) and the UK (which has not gotten the same visibility). Here’s my conclusion: Government employee unions come under increased scrutiny as budget shortfalls force cutbacks in public services. Public […]
February 20 , 2011 - Kriss Sjoblom
Tuition Transfer Update
As I discussed in an earlier post, the Senate version of the early action supplemental budget cut general fund–state funding to the higher education coordinating board (HEC Board) for the state need grant by $25.4 million. The Senate supplemental budget backfilled this loss in two steps. The first step was an appropriation of $25.4 million […]
February 17 , 2011 - Richard S. Davis
About Thrive Washington …
In the latest edition of AWB’s Washington Business magazine, I write about Thrive Washington, the research and communications partnership between the WRC and the Washington Roundtable. It’s seems wrong to quote myself. Please go to the column and let me know what you think.
February 17 , 2011 - Emily Makings
More Details on the 2011 Supplemental
More detailed numbers are now available on the 2011 supplemental agreement between the House and Senate. The conference report would reduce NGFS expenditures by $242.2 million and make fund transfers in the amount of $125.2 million, to reduce the 2009-11 shortfall by a total of $367.4 million. (The House bill would close the shortfall by […]
February 16 , 2011 - Emily Makings
First Look at the 2011 Supplemental Deal
As Dick noted, the House and Senate have come to an agreement on the next round of spending cuts to make, in the ongoing effort to close the 2009-11 budget shortfall. Senate Ways and Means has an intial comparison of the agreement to the bills that passed the House and Senate, and to the governor’s […]
February 14 , 2011 - Richard S. Davis
Tax exemptions as economic stimulus…
Strange headline over this story in Stateline.org: Despite red ink, some governors push big tax cuts for businesses. A less skeptical editor might have written, “because of red ink, some governors use tax policy to stimulate investment and job creation.” Because, well, that’s what the story is about. Governors from New York to Florida, Idaho […]
February 14 , 2011 - Richard S. Davis
Pension reforms moving forward in Olympia
Bert Caldwell does a nice job in the Spokesman-Review of catching up on the move to assure full funding of state pensions. Washington state Treasurer James McIntire last week followed through on a pledge made last fall: He and a bipartisan group of sponsors submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to the Legislature that would assure […]