Blog

New policy brief: Gov. Inslee’s 2018 Supplemental Operating Budget would Increase Spending by $960.8 Million

In a new policy brief, we take a look at Gov. Inslee’s 2018 supplemental budget proposal. It would increase NGFS+ spending by $960.8 million, raising 2017–19 appropriations to $44.7 billion. Of that spending increase, $761.4 million would be appropriated to fully implement new school staff salaries in school year 2018–19. Under the proposal, the unrestricted […]

New Special Report on Manufacturing Jobs (Part I)

We’re out today with Part One of a series of special reports on manufacturing jobs in Washington state. “Rebalancing Priorities: The Case for Manufacturing Jobs, Part I” covers the role of manufacturing in Washington’s economy, and discusses Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent veto of a tax reduction for state manufacturing. Our series on manufacturing will focus […]

New special report: Has the State Finally Closed the Book on McCleary?

In a new special report, we dig in to EHB 2242, the education funding bill passed by the Legislature this session. Briefly: The Legislature has enacted EHB 2242 to continue its response to the McCleary decision. From 2011–13 to 2017–19, state funding for public schools has increased by $8.419 billion (62.1 percent). In 2019–21, the […]

New brief: Legislature Passes 2017–19 Operating Budget That Increases Spending by $5.3 Billion

In a new policy brief, we provide an overview of the 2017-19 operating budget, as passed by the Legislature on June 30. Briefly: The Legislature has passed a 2017–19 operating budget that appropriates $43.707 billion. This is an increase in NGFS+ appropriations of $5.254 billion or 13.7 percent over 2015–17. Revenues are estimated to increase […]

New brief: Senate- and House-Passed Capital Budgets Include About $1 Billion for Public Schools

Last week we published a two-page comparison of the capital budgets that have been passed by the Senate and House. New today is a more detailed look at the proposals: Senate- and House-Passed Capital Budgets Include About $1 Billion for Public Schools. Briefly: The Senate and House have both passed 2017–19 capital budgets. The Senate would appropriate $3.995 […]

New brief: Comparing the Capital Budgets

The House and Senate have each passed capital budgets, but they differ by $157 million. In a new policy brief, we provide a side-by-side comparison of some of the major provisions of each proposal.

New brief: House-Passed 2017–19 Operating Budget Would Increase Spending by $6.4 Billion

In a new policy brief, we take a look at the House-passed operating budget. Briefly: The House-passed operating budget would increase revenues by $2.981 billion in 2017–19. It would impose a 20 percent B&O tax surcharge on various activities while reducing B&O taxes for small businesses, and it would impose a tax on capital gains, […]

New brief: Comparing the Operating Budgets

In a new policy brief, we provide a short comparison of the 2017-19 operating budget proposals, as passed by the Senate and House. UPDATE: We’ve recorded a Policy Today podcast discussing the differences between the House and Senate budget plans. You can listen to it here.

New brief: Comparing the Education Funding Proposals, Second Edition

In a new policy brief, we provide a side-by-side comparison of the education funding plans that have been proposed by the governor and Legislature. This is an update of the comparison we published last month. The update reflects changes made to the House- and Senate-passed plans, as funded in the operating budgets passed by each chamber. […]

New brief: Washington’s Steady Move to an Economic Nexus Standard for Taxes

In a new policy brief, we look at Washington’s Steady Move to an Economic Nexus Standard for Taxes. Briefly: “Nexus” means a connection, and it is a determinant of jurisdiction in tax law. Federal law is unclear as to whether a state may tax businesses without a physical presence in the state. Washington has used […]