New Brief: 2013-15 Operating Budget Mostly Avoids New Taxes, Prioritizes Education
In a new policy brief, we take a detailed look at the enacted 2013-15 state operating budget. Appropriations are about $2 billion higher than in 2011-13, as are total resources. The budget leaves $630 million in reserves.
May 03 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Assumptions Gap Divides Legislative Budget Proposals
In a new policy brief, we take a look at the shaky assumptions made in the House and Senate 2013-15 operating budget proposals. Assumptions are made in revenue and spending levels that may not come to pass. We also discuss transfers from the capital budget and ending reserves.
April 22 , 2013 - Kriss Sjoblom
New policy brief: House Finance Committee Considers Tax Increases
Our new policy brief on the House finance committee chair’s tax proposal can be downloaded here.
April 17 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: House Would Tax and Spend Over $1 Billion More than Senate in 2013-15
In a new policy brief, we describe the House-passed 2013-15 operating budget and compare it to the budget passed by the Senate. Overall, the House budget spends more, taxes more, and leaves less in reserves than the Senate. But both make significant appropriations for education.
April 05 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Increasing Education Spending in 2013-15: New Taxes or Re-Prioritization?
In a new policy brief, we compare Gov. Inslee’s “budget priorities for a working Washington” to the 2013-15 budget proposal from the Senate Ways and Means Committee chair.
March 29 , 2013 - Kriss Sjoblom
New policy brief: Revenue and Caseload Forecasts Set the Stage for Budget Writers
We have posted a new policy brief, Revenue and Caseload Forecasts Set the Stage for Budget Writers, which can be downloaded through this link.
February 20 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: More Reforms for Workers' Compensation
On February 4, the state Senate passed three workers’ comp bills. In a new brief today, we take a look at those bills and discuss why reforms are needed, even after the changes made in 2011.
February 04 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Leveling the Playing Field with Tax Preferences
Many business tax preferences serve to normalize Washington’s tax structure by reducing distortions, offsetting disincentives, and avoiding pyramiding. This is important from the standpoint of good tax policy, as we outline in a new policy brief. We also discuss the high tech R&D tax credits in particular.
January 22 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Comparative Analysis of School Funding
In a new special report, we look at school funding in Washington — level of funding, sources of funding, and how that funding compares to other states. As it turns out, Washington’s schools are funded heavily from state sources: Washington ranks 11th nationally in state revenues per student, but it ranks 40th in revenues from […]
January 09 , 2013 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Governor Gregoire's 2013-15 Budget Proposal
In December, Gov. Gregoire released her budget proposal for the upcoming biennium. We detail her proposed spending and revenue changes in a new policy brief. Overall, the proposal would increase spending by $2.8 billion over 2011-13. New and extended tax options in the plan total over $1 billion.