There are myriad ways to solve the budget problem without increasing taxes. Solving the problem will require cutting the 2025–27 maintenance level by about $4.7 billion (6.1%). (Since 2021, the state has adopted $13.874 billion in net new policy spending.) Gov. Ferguson and former Gov. Inslee have proposed billions of dollars in savings ideas over the past few months.

To illustrate the many options, we’ve created a spreadsheet in which readers can solve the budget problem for 2025–27 on their own. The spreadsheet includes spending history, descriptions of every new policy enacted since 2021, components of the maintenance level change for 2025–27, and the savings ideas included in Inslee’s budget proposals and proposed by Gov. Ferguson.

To minimize disruptions to Washingtonians, the Legislature should forgo new spending as much as possible this year and consider rolling back programs that were started in the past few years.

Read the report here.