Budget

Office of Program Research estimates that the budget shortfall is $6.7 billion over four years

The Office of Program Research (OPR, nonpartisan staff for the House of Representatives) presented a budget preview to the Appropriations Committee yesterday. OPR’s preliminary estimate of the unrestricted ending balance for funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) is -$4.351 billion in 2025–27 and -$6.700 billion in 2027–29. The OPR figures incorporate the November caseload forecast. […]

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 […]

Gov. Inslee freezes hiring, contracts, purchasing, and travel

On Monday, Gov. Inslee directed agencies to freeze hiring, services contracts, goods and equipment purchases, and travel. This is in response to the budget deficit that is projected for 2025–27. Such a directive is the standard first response to a deficit—Gov. Inslee made a similar directive in May 2020 and Gov. Gregoire did the same […]

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 […]

OFM: An estimated four-year operating budget deficit of $10–$12 billion

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) estimates that “the magnitude of the operating budget deficit is between $10 and $12 billion over the four-year period.” OFM is asking agencies “to propose operating and transportation budget reductions, starting with pauses or delays of programs, and to identify savings options for both the 2025 supplemental budgets and […]

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.) […]

Election results do not change our estimate of a $5 billion state budget shortfall

On election night, the Seattle Times reported that I-2109, I-2117, and I-2124 had been rejected. The story added that the results “mean that Washington’s Legislature will likely avoid a major budget shortfall in the upcoming legislative session.” That is not accurate. Our estimate of the substantial projected operating budget shortfall did not assume passage of […]

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 […]