Budget

UW requests more state support for the behavioral health teaching facility and for UW employee compensation

The University of Washington’s 2025–27 operating budget request is just 2.1% above 2023–25 general fund–state (GFS) appropriations. However, the request includes substantial maintenance and policy increases that are offset by a large carry-forward level reduction. (See the box at the bottom of this post for budget and fund terminology.) The carry-forward level is reduced by […]

WWU requests an increase to its per-pupil state funding

Western Washington University is requesting an increase to its general fund–state (GFS) budget of $77.7 million (38.1%) for 2025–27. Most of that increase ($71.8 million) would be new policy. (See the box at the bottom of this post for budget and fund terminology.) The total increase for WWU would significantly exceed the total requested changes […]

Dept. of Health wants to maintain pandemic-era funding levels in 2025–27

The Department of Health (DOH) has requested $459.3 million from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2025–27, which would be an increase of 22.5% over 2023–25. DOH funding increased substantially in 2021–23 due to pandemic-related programs and enhanced funding for foundational public health. Appropriations decreased in 2023–25, but they are still 76.9% higher than 2019–21 spending […]

Dept. of Agriculture requests major funding increase for food assistance

General fund–state (GFS) appropriations for the Department of Agriculture were effectively flat from 2011–13 through 2019–21. Then, appropriations (adjusted for inflation) jumped 120.8% in 2021–23 and another 46.4% in 2023–25. Now, the department is requesting an increase of 56.7% for 2025–27. The total requested GFS increase of $89.3 million is comprised of a carry-forward level […]

Department of Commerce seeks to build on its recent budget increases (plus, a document recording fee “backfill”)

General fund–state (GFS) appropriations for the Department of Commerce more than doubled in 2021–23 and 2023–25. Commerce’s budget request for 2025–27 would increase its GFS appropriations by $89.3 million (7.8%) over 2023–25. This includes a carry-forward level reduction of $381.0 million, a maintenance level increase of $15.5 million, and new policy increases of $454.9 million. […]

Department of Fish and Wildlife requests a 37% budget increase

General fund–state (GFS) spending for the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has increased substantially since 2017–19. Now, the department is requesting an operating budget increase of 37.2% for 2025–27. Under the request, GFS appropriations would be $475.0 million. (See the box at the bottom of this post for budget and fund terminology.) New policy […]

Office of Public Defense requests an 85.6% budget increase, mainly to increase funding for cities and counties

The Office of Public Defense (OPD) is requesting $272.2 million from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2025–27. That would be an increase of $125.6 million (85.6%) over enacted 2023–25 appropriations for the agency. The increase would mostly be new policy items. (See the box at the bottom of this post for budget and fund terminology.) […]

The community and technical college system requests significant budget increases for compensation and college operations

The community and technical college system (CTCS) is requesting $2.383 billion from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2025–27. This amount would be an increase of $475.0 million (24.9%) compared to enacted 2023–25 appropriations. As the Washington State Standard reported in September, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) discovered that the CTCS inadvertently received $28 million […]

Department of Corrections requests a 20.3% spending increase; almost half of that would backfill federal pandemic relief funding that is no longer available

In our policy brief explaining why the state is facing an estimated budget shortfall, we noted that one contributing factor is the fact that federal pandemic relief money is drying up. The 2025–27 operating budget request from the Department of Corrections provides an example of that. Corrections is requesting $3.390 billion from the general fund–state […]

Health Care Authority requests an 8.9% budget increase (not including caseload forecast impacts)

The Health Care Authority (HCA) is requesting $8.847 billion from the general fund–state (GFS) for 2025–27. That is an increase of $724.6 million (8.9%) over enacted 2023–25 appropriations. Of the increase, $90.9 million is carry-forward, $180.6 million is maintenance, and $477.0 million is new policy. (See the box at the bottom of this post for […]