Gov. Inslee’s operating budget proposal estimates that the maintenance level for 2025–27 (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted for inflation and enrollment) is $77.360 billion. That is $5.415 billion (7.5%) higher than enacted 2023–25 appropriations.

On top of that, Gov. Inslee proposes adding a net of $2.086 billion in new policy, including $1.210 for employee compensation. The chart shows how the remaining proposed new policy funding is distributed.

Some of the major policy increases include:

• $80.9 million for public defense improvement grants for cities and counties
• $35.6 million to increase nursing home rates
• $46.3 million to increase assisted living facility rates
• $66.3 million to eliminate garnishment of social security payments received by Aged, Blind, and Disabled program recipients
• $70.9 million to match federal funds for non-native substance use treatment at tribal facilities
• $59.1 million to implement phase 4 of the Trueblood settlement agreement
• $55.7 million to increase the ECEAP rate by 18%
• $67.5 million to comply with new federal requirements for the Child Care and Development Fund
• $93.3 million for food assistance organizations
• $40.0 million for the behavioral health teaching facility at UW
• $72.9 million for the new debt service on capital budget bonds
• $55.0 million for the health care affordability account (which funds the Cascade Care premium subsidies)

Major savings items include:

• $75.0 million from increasing the hospital safety net assessment contribution to the general fund
• $145.9 million from delaying the ECEAP entitlement until SY 2030–31
• $119.5 million from delaying the expansion of the Working Connections Child Care program until FY 2031
• $151.1 million from pausing the National Board bonus for teachers

Note that the governor’s budget does not fund the huge request from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.