Blog

New Brief: SJR 8206: A Prudent Savings Measure

In our new brief, we take a look at SJR 8206 — a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in November. The amendment would save any extraordinary revenue growth (growth that exceeds by one-third the average revenue growth over the prior five biennia) in the Budget Stabilization Account.  Years in which there is […]

State Analysts and WRC Agree: I-1183 Generates Positive State/Local Revenues

We have posted a Policy Brief titled State Analysts and WRC Agree: I-1183 Generates Positive State/Local Revenues. Here is a link to the brief.

New Brief: The 2011-13 Budget and the Upcoming Revenue Forecast

As Kriss reported on Sunday, the September 15 revenue forecast probably won’t be pretty:  “[State economist Arun] Raha indicated that a major downward adjustment to the forecast of state revenue for the 2011-13 biennium is forthcoming.” In light of that, we have a new brief today that describes some of the policy changes made in […]

New Brief: Initiatives and Referenda at the Local Level

Today we published a new brief on the local initiative and referendum process in Washington.  Washington has 281 cities and 39 counties.  Depending on the type of city or county, residents may or may not have the powers of initiative and referendum locally–in 59 cities and six counties, they do.

Initiative 1183 Would Produce Revenue Gains for State and Local Governments

The Research Council has published a Special Report on I-1183. Briefly: Initiative 1183 would end the state monopoly over the liquor sales and distribution system in Washington. Our analysis shows that state and local governments would gain $443 million in additional revenue over six years under the initiative, compared to the current state monopoly baseline. […]

Policy Brief: New Reforms to Workers' Compensation

Our wrap-up of the changes made this legislative session to the workers’ compensation system is now posted.  It follows several other reports on the subject and the need for reform: Employment Cost Drivers in Washington State, The Time Has Come to Fix Workers’ Compensation, and Mainstreaming Workers’ Compensation. In these reports, we have consistently called […]

Washington Fares Poorly in New Business Tax Rankings

According to calculations by Ernst & Young LLP, the state and local tax burden faced by businesses siting new facilities or expanding existing facilities in Washington ranks among the highest in the nation. Our Policy Brief on the report is available here. The Ernst & Young report itself is available here.

Thrive Washington on Economic Development

The latest Thrive Washington paper is now available. Economic Development: Moving Washington State Forward Into Recovery covers education and business climate, as well as more direct economic development policies.  From the conclusion: Public and private groups have made proposals that would enhance the education of our  students to ensure they are prepared to enter the […]

New Brief on Higher Education in the 2011-13 Budgets

We have posted a new policy brief on higher education in the House and Senate budgets, titled “Higher Education: State Funding Down, Tuition Up.” It is available through this link. Briefly: Under the House budget, NGFS+ funding for higher education would be $2.81 billion, while under the Senate budget it would be  $2.84 billion. Either […]

New Brief on How Public Schools Fare in 2011-13 Budgets

Following last week’s brief on proposed 2011-13 expenditures in the human services budget area, today we take a look at public schools.  (See also this brief for an overview of the House and Senate budget plans.) Spending on public schools would increase over 2009-11 levels in both the House- and Senate-passed budgets.  Maintenance level changes […]