Blog

Adopted pension contribution rates could save the state $325 million in 2027–29

On Tuesday, the Pension Funding Council adopted 2027–29 employer contribution rates for state pension plans. The rates for 2027–29, as calculated by the Office of the State Actuary (OSA), are expected to decline compared to 2025–27. OSA estimates that the adopted rates will reduce state spending by $325 million in 2027–29 (compared to current rates). […]

State liability account shortfall grows

Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times reports that the Office of Financial Management (OFM) has authorized the state’s self-insurance liability account (SILA) “to be in a temporary cash deficiency of up to $1.7 billion” in 2025–27. At this time last year, the state had authorized a temporary cash deficiency in the account of up to […]

Transportation revenue forecast is down again

According to the Transportation Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, transportation revenues are forecasted to total $8.705 billion in 2025–27, $10.617 billion in 2027–29, and $10.004 billion in 2029–31. Over the three-biennia period, this is $434.6 million less than expected in the February 2026 forecast. The 2026 supplemental transportation budget had balanced through 2029–31. Today’s reduction […]

Budget-related lawsuits piling up

The Washington State Standard reports that two assisted living organizations are suing the state over the way the Legislature reduced assisted living facility rates this year. The 2026 supplemental operating budget (Sec. 938) delays a scheduled rate rebase from FY 2027 to FY 2028. This is estimated to reduce spending from funds subject to the […]

June caseload forecast reduces total caseload estimates for 2025–27

On Thursday, the Caseload Forecast Council presented the June caseload forecast. The caseload forecast feeds into the estimated maintenance level (the cost of continuing current and planned services, adjusted for enrollment and inflation). There will be another caseload forecast in November, which will inform the governor’s proposed 2027–29 budget, and another in February 2027, which […]

OFM: “There will be significant budget shortfalls next biennium”

On Friday, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) sent budget instructions for 2027–29 to agencies. In the instructions, OFM director K.D. Chapman-See writes, “To be direct, there will be significant budget shortfalls next biennium in both operating and transportation budgets. I want to be clear that we do not yet know precisely how significant the […]

Could the general fund–state end FY 2026 in the red?

According to a monthly report released last week by the Office of the State Treasurer, the ending balance in the general fund–state (GFS) was -$3.419 billion at the end of March. Although ebbs and flows in the ending balance over the course of a year are normal, this is an unusually large shortfall. Typically, GFS […]

State spending has increased substantially

Andrew Villeneuve of the Northwest Progressive Institute argues that Washington’s budget “has been shrinking.” His analysis is premised on the opinion that state government should grow as fast as the economy. Additionally, the subtitle to Villeneuve’s post claims, “In relative terms — the only terms worth using for comparisons — the state budget has gotten […]

The budget problem and the income tax

In the Seattle Times today, Paul Roberts writes about the downward revisions to Washington’s credit outlook. The credit rating agencies cited the recent trend of spending outpacing revenues and the use of reserves to balance the budget. According to the Times, Democratic state lawmakers, who control the state budget process, say they’re more than aware […]

New brief: State and Local Spending on Housing and Homelessness Has Increased Significantly

Federal pandemic relief significantly boosted state spending on housing programs; as the federal funding has been drawn down, the state has added more funding from state sources. Similarly, even as overall spending by local governments has increased in recent years, the share dedicated to housing and homelessness services has increased. From 2014 to 2024 (adjusted […]