Blog

Would I-645 “blow a $13 billion hole in the state budget”?

This week I saw an internet ad from the No on I-645 campaign that claims, “If passed, I-645 would blow a $13 billion hole in the state budget.” This is inaccurate and reflects a misunderstanding of our state budget. First, where is the “$13 billion” figure coming from? There’s no source listed, but a TV […]

DCYF budget request would decrease spending, but it doesn’t include caseload changes or liability costs

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is requesting $4.617 billion from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2027–29. This would be a reduction of $694.0 million (13.1%) compared to enacted appropriations for 2025–27. The reduction in spending is entirely at the carry-forward level, which would decline by a net of $898.5 million. That includes […]

New brief: I-645: Repealing the State Individual Income Tax

A 9.9% tax will be imposed on Washington income over $1 million beginning Jan. 1, 2028. Initiative 645 would repeal the income tax and prohibit any state or local taxes on individual income. I-645 would reduce revenues for funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $3.108 billion in 2027–29 and by $8.324 billion in 2029–31. […]

L&I proposes increasing average workers’ compensation rates by 4.9% in 2027, well below the break-even point

Today the Department of Labor & Industries proposed increasing average workers’ compensation rates by 4.9% in 2027. According to L&I, rates would increase for 293 of the state’s 327 risk classes. As shown in the chart above, the proposal for 2027 would be the sixth increase in a row. However, these increases have not been […]

Dept. of Revenue requests an 11.4% spending increase (not including the expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit program)

The Department of Revenue (DOR) is requesting $1.087 billion in general fund–state (GFS) appropriations for 2027–29, which would be an increase of $111.0 million (11.4%) over 2025–27 appropriations. Of that increase, $20.8 million is at the carry-forward level. This includes $10.2 million for implementation of the state income tax. The budget request does not include […]

Commerce requests a 15.3% budget increase

The Department of Commerce is requesting general fund–state (GFS) appropriations of $974.9 million for 2027–29, which would be an increase of $129.5 million (15.3%) compared to enacted appropriations for 2025–27. The increase includes a carry-forward reduction of $193.3 million and a net new policy increase of $322.8 million. The request includes $88.0 million in 2027–29 […]

Liability account expected to be $345 million in deficit at end of the biennium; major increase in agency liability premiums requested

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is requesting $1.274 billion in 2027–29 and $939.5 million in 2029–31 in new spending from the self-insurance liability account (SILA). The SILA is used to “pay legal liabilities and defense costs of the state resulting from tortious conduct.” Agencies pay premiums to the account based on an actuarial study […]

HCA requests a 3.5% increase in appropriations, but the request doesn’t include an estimate of caseload changes since the current budget was adopted

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is requesting $9.762 billion from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2027–29, which is $327.3 million (3.5%) higher than enacted appropriations for 2025–27. That change is comprised of a carry-forward level reduction of $21.8 million, a maintenance level increase of $200.9 million, and a policy level increase of $148.2 million. The […]

OSPI requests a 9.9% increase in K–12 funding for 2027–29

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is requesting $33.552 billion from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2027–29. That’s $3.027 billion (9.9%) higher than enacted 2025–27 appropriations. Of the increase, $926.9 million is the carry-forward change, $3.9 million is the maintenance level change, and $2.096 billion is proposed new policy. The new policy would […]

Budget outlook accuracy declined in 2025–27; growth factors will be adjusted

On Friday, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) met for the quarterly economic review, which will inform the upcoming revenue forecast. Additionally, the ERFC approved the growth factors that will be used to estimate the maintenance level (ML) for the second biennium (the outlook) of budgets adopted for the 2027–29 biennium. In 2024, the […]