Budget

School districts in Washington have spent 52% of their federal relief money; of the amount spent, 44.5% is categorized as “indirect” or “other”

Last week the Seattle Times editorial board wrote about recent student test scores and asked why so much of the federal relief money for schools is still unspent. Further, it wrote, “It’s puzzling to examine school district spending choices so far.” There were three rounds of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER). Washington […]

Including federal relief, state spending increased by 27.1% in 2019–21 and 28.7% in 2021–23

The increase in appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) in the 2022 supplemental operating budget is historically large. But that doesn’t include the influx of federal relief funds related to the pandemic. On top of the $64.125 billion in NGFO appropriations for 2021–23, federal relief appropriations for 2021–23 came to $8.931 billion in […]

Twenty-four towns in Washington declined general federal relief money

Crosscut is running a nice series on the federal COVID relief money in Washington. An item from last month was about how six Washington cities did not claim their shares of the coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery fund (SLFRF). Some of these small towns said they refused the money because they had not racked […]

New data from OSPI shows how school districts are using federal relief funds (20% has been spent so far)

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has created a useful spreadsheet showing how school districts have used their federal Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. It includes claims processed through Nov. 2021, and it will be updated going forward. (The spreadsheet can be accessed from this page.) The federal government appropriated […]

Federal relief funds to governments, businesses, and individuals in Washington now total over $100 billion

Federal COVID relief that has been allocated for Washington’s governments, businesses, and individuals now totals $101.7 billion. Of that, $75.4 billion has gone or will go to businesses and individuals and $26.3 billion is flowing through our state and local governments. (This money will be spent over several years. For context, state and local governments […]

Federal relief funds to governments, businesses, and individuals in Washington total more than $93 billion so far

I’ve updated our table of federal COVID relief that has been allocated for Washington’s governments, businesses, and individuals. The relief now totals $93.6 billion. Of that, $67.3 billion has gone or will go to businesses and individuals and $26.3 billion is flowing through our state and local governments. This funding will be spent over several […]

What is the source of funding for the “Shot of a Lifetime” vaccine promotion?

Earlier this month, Gov. Inslee announced a lottery for vaccinated Washingtonians, including cash prizes, tuition funding, and various other incentives (many of which are being donated by businesses). According to the Office of Financial Management (OFM), the state is spending $3.8 million on these prizes, all of which comes from federal funds. Of that amount, […]

An update on Washington’s use of its coronavirus relief fund money

As part of the CARES Act last year, the federal government established the coronavirus relief fund (CRF) to provide fairly flexible funding to states and some local governments, for expenses related to the pandemic. The funds must be used for costs incurred by the end of calendar year 2021. The state of Washington received $2.167 […]

Almost $90 billion in federal relief has so far been allocated to individuals, businesses, and governments in Washington

Federal coronavirus relief funding that Congress appropriated earlier this year in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act is still being distributed to its intended recipients. Because the bill includes so many pots of money that are for specific purposes, rather than for specific states, it’s still not clear exactly how much will come to Washington. […]

Across operating, capital, and transportation budgets, Legislature appropriated $10.1 billion in federal relief dollars (on top of $7.2 billion previously allocated)

Over $24 billion in federal relief has flown or will flow through Washington’s state and local governments. Of that, $7.238 billion was allocated by the governor last year or appropriated by the Legislature in early action bills this session. As part of the final operating, capital, and transportation budgets this session, the Legislature appropriated an […]