New brief: I-976: Reversing Transportation Taxes and Fees
I-976 would limit annual state and local vehicle license fees to $30, revoke the authority for transportation benefit districts to impose vehicle fees, repeal the state motor vehicle sales tax, revoke Sound Transit’s authority to impose a motor vehicle excise tax (if possible to do so under the terms of its bonds), and specify that […]
July 12 , 2019 - WRC
New policy brief: Long-Term Care and Paid Family and Medical Leave: A Tale of Two Payroll Taxes
The Legislature has enacted two major payroll taxes in the last two years. Payroll taxes fund both a new long-term care insurance program that was enacted this year (the first in the nation) and the paid family and medical leave program that was adopted in 2017. The long-term care insurance premiums will be 0.58 percent […]
May 22 , 2019 - WRC
New policy brief: Despite Substantial Recent Revenue Growth, Legislature Increases Taxes by Over $1 Billion
The March revenue forecast estimated that 2019–21 revenues will be $50.555 billion, an increase of 9.6 percent over 2017–19 (also as estimated in the March forecast). Nevertheless, the Legislature passed several tax bills that will increase total revenues by a net of $1.101 billion in 2019–21 (based on the most recent fiscal estimates). Of that, […]
May 16 , 2019 - WRC
New policy brief: State Operating Appropriations for 2019–21 Increase by 18.3 Percent, Topping $50 Billion
Operating appropriations for 2019–21, as passed by the Legislature, are $52.852 billion— an 18.3 percent increase over 2017–19 appropriations. This is the largest increase in at least 25 years, and it comes after significant increases of 13.6 percent in 2015–17 and 16.9 percent in 2017–19. A major contributor to the increase in appropriations for 2019–21 […]
May 08 , 2019 - WRC
New brief: Legislature Adopts New Taxes to Increase 2019–21 Spending by 18.3 Percent
Appropriations for 2019–21 from funds subject to the outlook and the new workforce education investment account total $52.852 billion (pending gubernatorial action), an 18.3 percent increase over 2017–19. That includes $2.367 billion of spending on new policy. Major new spending items include funding the collective bargaining agreements with state employees and school employee health benefits, […]
April 18 , 2019 - WRC
New policy brief: House- and Senate-Passed Operating Budgets Would Increase Taxes to Pay for Billions in New Policy Spending
State revenues from current sources are estimated to reach $50.555 billion in 2019–21, enough to cover the 2019–21 maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services). On top of the maintenance level, the House has passed a 2019–21 operating budget that would increase appropriations by $2.421 billion from funds subject to the outlook and the […]
April 10 , 2019 - WRC
New brief: Comparing the 2019-21 Operating Budgets
The House and Senate have each passed 2019–21 operating budgets. The House-passed budget would appropriate $52.934 billion from funds subject to the outlook and another $389.6 million from a new workforce education investment account (WEIA). The Senate-passed budget would appropriate $52.181 billion from funds subject to the outlook ($1.143 billion less than the House, including […]
April 05 , 2019 - WRC
New brief: A Capital Gains Tax Would Not Improve Budget Sustainability
Although the March revenue forecast increased estimated state revenues for the 2017–19 and 2019–21 biennia, the House Appropriations Committee Chair proposed a new capital gains tax along with his 2019–21 operating budget. The Senate is also considering a capital gains tax, although in this case the proceeds would be used to reduce other taxes rather […]
April 02 , 2019 - WRC
New brief: Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair’s Proposed Operating Budget Would Increase Spending by $7.5 Billion
The 2019–21 operating budget proposed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair would increase appropriations from funds subject to the outlook by $7.511 billion (16.8 percent) over 2017–19. Of that, $1.667 billion is due to spending on new policy, while maintenance level changes (the cost of continuing current services, including the response to the […]
March 27 , 2019 - WRC
New policy brief: House Appropriations Chair’s Proposed Operating Budget Would Increase Spending by $8 Billion
The House Appropriations Committee Chair has proposed a 2019–21 operating budget that would appropriate $52.811 billion from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO). This is an increase of $8.150 billion (18.2 percent) over 2017–19 appropriations. This increase would be the largest in at least 25 years, after a 17.9 percent increase in 2005–07 and a […]