Gov. Inslee has proposed increasing the 2017-19 near general fund–state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) operating budget by $8.2 billion over 2015-17 expenditures. This number includes the $3.9 billion in education spending the governor proposed yesterday, and it includes both policy and maintenance level spending.

According to the summary document, about $4.8 billion of the $8.2 billion total is policy level spending. Including the governor’s proposed revenue package ($4.4 billion in increased taxes), the projected ending fund balance for 2017–19 would be $385 million, and total reserves (including the rainy day fund) would be $1.7 billion. The proposal would also use some reserves.

Also according to the governor’s office, 50.6 percent of NGFS+ spending in 2017–19 would go to public schools. The operating budget proposal would also:

• Freeze resident undergraduate tuition ($56.4 million)
• Expand the State Need Grant ($116.3 million)
• Hire more staff for state psychiatric hospitals ($52.7 million)
• Add community alternative placement beds for clients ready for discharge from state psychiatric hospitals ($63.1 million)
• Expand treatment for hepatitis C ($41.1 million)
• Expand rent assistance for homeless families ($20.0 million)
• Fund the collective bargaining agreements with state employees ($500 million)
• Extend similar pay raises to non-represented employees ($232 million)

This is the budget Gov. Inslee would like to see. But the governor is required by law to propose a budget that balances within existing revenues—the Office of Financial Management tells me he will submit this “book 1” budget by Dec. 20.