Budget

Senate chair’s supplemental budget proposal would increase spending by $1.1 billion

Today Senate Ways and Means Committee chair Christine Rolfes proposed a 2018 supplemental operating budget that would increase 2017–19 near general fund–state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending to $44.813 billion. This is an increase of $1.105 billion over the enacted 2017–19 budget, and it is $143.8 million more than Gov. Inslee proposed in December. The […]

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 […]

Policy changes and shifts in the governor’s supplemental

Last week Gov. Inslee proposed his 2018 supplemental operating budget. As I wrote on Thursday, it would increase near general fund–state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending for 2017–19 by $960.8 million. Of that, $879.0 million is from policy changes (new spending). The table shows the breakout by budget area. (Maintenance level reflects changes to things […]

Gov. Inslee proposes increasing spending by $960.8 million

Gov. Inslee’s 2018 supplemental operating budget would increase near general fund–state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending by $960.8 million. This would put 2017–19 appropriations at $44.669 billion. To comply with the Supreme Court’s order that the Legislature needs to fully fund K–12 salaries by school year 2018–19 (rather than SY 2019–20), the proposal would increase spending […]

Notes from the Supreme Court order in the McCleary case, and its budget implications

The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Legislature is still out of compliance with its Jan. 9, 2014 order in the McCleary case on school funding, because the salary component of EHB 2242 (the education funding bill enacted this year) will not be fully implemented until the 2019–20 school year—after the Sept. 1, 2018 […]

Taking vetoes into account, the budget doesn’t balance over four years (plus, a note on minimum wage disemployment effects)

The Legislature passed a 2017–19 operating budget that balanced over four years; an outlook prepared for the compromise indicated unrestricted ending fund balances of $985 million in 2017–19 and $42 million in 2019–21. But those figures were based on the proposed compromise—they didn’t include any changes made by Legislators prior to voting on the budget on June […]

Studying the studies in the budget

Tucked into the $43.7 billion operating budget are several requirements for studies and audits. They didn’t make it into our overview of the budget, but I thought some are worth highlighting: A work group is formed in the House of Representatives “to facilitate public discussions throughout the state regarding Washington’s tax structure.” This may include […]

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 […]

The operating budget compromise included a reduction of the B&O tax rate for all manufacturers—will it be signed by the governor?

In order to balance the operating budget, the Legislature passed two bills that will increase revenues by an estimated $2.070 billion in 2017–19 and $3.358 billion in 2019–21.  The Legislature also passed SSB 5977, which includes 13 tax changes that are estimated to reduce revenues by $15.7 million in 2017–19 and $81.8 million in 2019–21. (There […]

Gov. Inslee signed the operating budget but vetoed several provisions

A new fiscal year (2018) and a new biennium (2017–19) began on Saturday, July 1, but it doesn’t feel much like a fresh start. For one thing, the third special session is still alive. Legislators will return to work on the capital budget. Also, we’re still digesting the operating budget bill, since it was publicly […]