Budget

The rainy day fund and the governor’s budget

The governor’s proposed 2021 supplemental operating budget would drain the budget stabilization account (BSA, or the rainy day fund), as I noted last month. Based on the November revenue forecast, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council estimated that the BSA’s ending balance in 2019–21 would be $1.943 billion—the highest it has ever been. That figure […]

Rental assistance funding in Gov. Inslee’s budget proposals and federal relief bills

The new federal relief bill appropriates $25 billion for emergency rental assistance. It will be distributed to states and local governments using the same methodology as the Coronavirus Relief Fund (except local governments will get direct federal allocations if their populations exceed 200,000 instead of 500,000). It’s not clear how much Washington will receive, but […]

How the pandemic is affecting public school funding in Washington and elsewhere in the U.S.

A New York Times article last week looked at public school funding issues related to the pandemic. The new federal aid bill, which was signed by the president on Sunday, includes $54.3 billion for the elementary and secondary school emergency relief (ESSER) fund. (That’s on top of $13.5 billion for this purpose that was part […]

Gov. Inslee’s 2021 supplemental would reduce 2019–21 appropriations by $915.1 million

The 2019–21 operating budget (including the 2020 supplemental) appropriated $53.700 billion from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO). Gov. Inslee would reduce that amount by $915.1 million, to $52.785 billion. Maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services) changes would reduce appropriations by $1.254 billion and new policies would increase spending by $338.5 million. Many […]

Gov. Inslee’s proposed operating budget would impose a capital gains tax and drain the rainy day fund

Gov. Inslee has proposed a 2021 supplemental to the 2019–21 operating budget and a 2021–23 operating budget. The 2021 supplemental would reduce appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $915 million. The 2021–23 proposal would appropriate $57.8 billion, including $1.7 billion in new policy. Despite the improved revenue forecast, the governor is proposing […]

Gov. Inslee expected to veto some of the spending increases passed by the Legislature last month

The Legislature passed a 2020 supplemental budget last month that increases appropriations from funds subject to the outlook plus the workforce education investment account (NGFO+WEIA) by $975.8 million over original 2019–21 appropriations. Of that, $839.5 million is new policy (the rest represents the cost of continuing current services). This is on top of substantial spending […]

New brief: While Acknowledging the Increasingly Negative Economic Outlook, the Legislature Increases Appropriations by 20.5 Percent

Acknowledging the quickly worsening public health and economic circumstances in the last few weeks of session, the Legislature passed a 2020 supplemental operating budget that appropriates less than either of the earlier Senate-passed or House-passed proposals. Still, it increases appropriations from funds subject to the outlook plus the workforce education investment account (NGFO+WEIA) by $975.8 […]

Accounting for the rainy day fund appropriation in the outlook and overall spending level

Before adjourning yesterday, the Legislature passed the supplemental operating budget. Under the conference agreement (which was not amended prior to passage), the supplemental increases 2019–21 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook plus the workforce education investment account (NGFO+WEIA) by $975.8 million. This is less than had previously been passed by each house. On top […]

With operating budget agreement, appropriations would be up 20.5 percent over 2017–19

The 2020 supplemental operating budget conference agreement would increase 2019–21 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook plus the workforce education investment account (NGFO+WEIA) to $53.849 billion, an increase of 20.5 percent over 2017–19 spending. As I noted yesterday, the conference agreement would actually appropriate less from funds subject to the outlook than the versions […]

Budget deal would increase 2019–21 spending from funds subject to the outlook by $961.0 million

The 2020 supplemental operating budget conference agreement was announced this afternoon. There’s a lot to go through (stay tuned for more), but it would appropriate $53.460 billion for 2019–21 from funds subject to the outlook, an increase of $961.0 million over enacted appropriations. The Senate- and House-passed budgets would have each increased appropriations by more […]