Blog

New report: Regulatory Reform: A Win-Win-Win for Agencies, Businesses, and Taxpayers

We have a new special report looking at a series of regulatory reform audits from the State Auditor’s Office. Briefly: Since 2011, the state auditor’s office (SAO) has been looking at regulatory reform. In 2015, it found that Washington does not take a strategic approach to multi-agency coordination. In 2013, the SAO found that for […]

New report: Improving Economy Allows for Significant Spending on Education Without New Taxes

Here is our report on the 2015-17 operating budget: Improving Economy Allows for Significant Spending on Education Without New Taxes. Briefly: The 2015–17 operating budget appropriates $38.219 billion. Spending is increased by $4.425 billion, or 13.1 percent, over 2013–15. An improving economy means that the state has about $3 billion more revenues than in 2013–15. […]

New brief: A Current Law Transportation Budget is Enacted; Will a New Transportation Revenue Package be Next?

Although a new transportation revenue package has not been agreed to yet, a current law transportation budget for 2015-17 has been enacted. We take a look at what’s included in a new policy brief. Briefly: The Legislature has enacted a current law transportation budget for 2015–17. It appropriates $7.619 billion in operating and capital funds, […]

New brief: The 2015-17 Budget Undercard: Capital Appropriations

We take a look at the House and Senate capital budget proposals in a new policy brief. Briefly: The House and Senate have both passed 2015–17 capital budgets, but a final version has not yet been agreed to. The House would appropriate $3.769 billion. The Senate would appropriate $3.623 billion. Both chambers would reduce 2013–15 […]

New brief: College Affordability, Two Ways

In a new policy brief, we look at the College Affordability Program, which is the Senate’s plan to reduce tuition for 2015-17. Briefly: The Senate’s College Affordability Program would return tuition-setting authority to the Legislature. It would tie tuition to the state’s average wage, resulting in tuition reductions in the 2015–17 biennium. Reflecting the tuition […]

New policy brief: Levy Swap: Tax Increases, Tax Reductions, Unanswered Questions

We have posted a new policy brief titled: Levy Swap: Tax Increases, Tax Reductions, Unanswered Questions Briefly Levy swap: court-required state funding to replace local dollars to finance basic k-12 education. A state property tax increase to fund a levy swap is proposed by Sen. Dammeier, Rep. Hunter. A uniform statewide property tax hike to […]

New brief: 2015-17 Operating Budget: Spending Priorities

We have a new policy brief comparing the House- and Senate-passed operating budgets. Briefly: A better economy is expected to bring in an additional $3 billion in revenue. The House-passed budget increases spending by more than $5 billion over 2013– 15. The Senate-passed budget increases spending by more than $4 billion over 2013– 15. Policy […]

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 […]

New special report: Carbon Taxation

We have posted a new special report on Gov. Inslee's cap and trade proposal (SHB 1314) and Carbon Washington's carbon tax initiative. The brief can be downloaded through this link.

New brief: Mandating Paid Sick Leave in Washington

We have a new policy brief today: Mandating Paid Sick Leave in Washington. Briefly: HB 1356 would require employers statewide to provide a paid sick and safe time benefit. The amount of leave would be dependent on the size of the employer. All businesses with more than four FTEs would be affected. Employees could use […]