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Policy Today: House Appropriations Chair's 2015-17 Budget Proposal

    In our latest episode of Policy Today, Lew, Kriss and I talk about the 2015-17 budget proposed by the House Appropriations chair. To subscribe to our podcasts, go here.

Senate W&M chair proposes "no new taxes" budget

Following Friday’s 2015-17 budget proposal from the House Appropriations chair, today the Senate Ways and Means Committee chair made his proposal. Under the proposal, 2015-17 near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending would total $38.0 billion. (This is about $1.0 billion less than in the House proposal.) Some policy highlights: $1.3 billion for basic […]

House Democrats present a $5.1 billion budget problem for 2015-17

It is budget season in the state Legislature. Today House Democrats released their proposal for 2015-17. (Details here.) Total spending for 2015-17 would be $39.0 billion. (As originally enacted, expenditures totaled $33.8 billion for 2013-15.) The proposal would increase policy level spending by $2.4 billion near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+). Given those increases […]

Final enrollment numbers from the Exchange, and national enrollment issues

I’ve noted that the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) did not meet its enrollment goals for the open enrollment period that ended in February. Yesterday the HBE released final enrollment numbers through March 9. Some highlights and comments: A total of 158,302 either newly enrolled or renewed their coverage in qualified (private) health plans (QHP). […]

New report: Senate Transportation Package Would Begin to Address State’s Significant Infrastructure Needs

We’ve published a new special report on the Senate’s transportation budget. Briefly: The Senate’s transportation package would increase spending by $13.8 billion through 2031. It would increase the state gas tax by 11.7 cents over three years, bringing in $5.6 billion through 2031. It assumes bonding authority of $3.4 billion. Of the spending, $1.3 billion […]

February 11–March 10 state revenue collections were $16.7 million greater than forecast

This afternoon 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 February 11 – March 10, 2015 collection period were $16.7 million (1.6%) higher than the February forecast. Revenue Act collections came in $21.6 […]

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Washington's forecasted revenue growth is better than that of the average state

A recent post at TaxVox (the blog of the Urban Institute/Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center) examines state government revenue forecasts fore fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017. State forecasters expect revenue growth to remain sluggish through fiscal year (FY) 2016 according to an Urban Institute analysis of agency reports. In FY17, states project revenue growth […]

New general fund–state revenue forecast: up $106.8 million for 2013–15 biennium; up $129.4 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 $106.8 million to $33,546.6 million. The forecast of general fund-state revenue for the upcoming biennium (2015–17) increased by $129.4 million to $36,448.9 million. This is the eighth consecutive meeting […]

January 11–February 10 state revenue collections were $53.8 million greater than forecast

At noon 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 January 11 – February 10, 2015 collection period were $53.8 million (3.8%) higher than the November forecast. Cumulatively, collections are now $69.0 million […]