Budget

Increased residential and in-home provider rates are the second biggest use of the coronavirus relief funds so far

On Tuesday, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) made a new round of allocations from the state’s share of the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). First, there is $8.9 million for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families caseload impacts from policy changes that waived time limit and participation requirements. Second, there is $5.1 million for the […]

The state of Washington has $662.4 million left from federal Coronavirus Relief Fund—here’s where the money has gone so far

The federal CARES Act included the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), which distributed $2.953 billion for governments in Washington. The federal government made direct payments to the state, the city of Seattle, and King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties. The state government’s share was $2.167 billion. Since May, the state has been distributing the funds to […]

State support for businesses and the economy

Yesterday Gov. Inslee announced the formation of the Washington Recovery Group. This is “a new state effort to help communities recover from the social and economic damage wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.” It will be housed in the Office of Financial Management and “will help state agencies coordinate with local governments, higher education and the […]

With I-976, transportation revenues were already expected to decline from 2017–19 to 2019–21. The recession is expected to deepen that decline.

Operating budget revenues are still expected to increase from 2017–19 to 2019–21, despite the impacts of the recession. Transportation revenues are not. Even before the current recession, state transportation revenues were expected to drop from 2017–19 to 2019–21 thanks to the passage of I-976 last November. According to the September transportation revenue forecast, 2019–21 revenues […]

State revenues not as bad as expected; federal debt headed off the charts

Washington isn’t the only state in which the recession’s impact to revenues is now expected to be not as bad as initially feared. Pew reports that Colorado, Michigan, and New Jersey are expecting higher revenues than previously forecast. Bloomberg adds California and Georgia to that list. According to Bloomberg, The figures are an early sign […]

$671.9 million is left of the state’s coronavirus relief fund share

The state of Washington has now allocated $1.495 billion of the $2.167 billion it received from the federal coronavirus relief fund (part of the CARES Act). Since my last post on the state’s allocations of this funding, the state has distributed additional funds to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Employment […]

$11.9 million in disaster cash assistance distributed through July

The Economic Services Administration (part of the Department of Social and Health Services) runs the state’s Disaster Cash Assistance Program (DCAP). In declared emergencies, the program provides cash to people who “don’t have the money to meet their basic needs.” These are generally one-time funds, but this year, someone could qualify once if affected by […]

The state of Washington has $752.8 million of its coronavirus relief fund share left; city and county allocations announced

As we wait to see if Congress will increase coronavirus relief fund (CRF) appropriations for state and local governments, our state government is continuing to make allocations from its current CRF share. On Sept. 8, the Office of Financial Management allocated another $357.8 million. With these allocations, the state government has $752.8 million left. The […]

Still no word on additional federal relief funds for states

The U.S. Congress still hasn’t come to an agreement on a new coronavirus relief package. The Wall Street Journal reports that state and local funding remains a sticking point in negotiations. In May, the U.S. House passed a $3 trillion bill, which would give states $500 billion and local governments $375 billion that could be […]

State allocates more CARES Act funding to local governments in Washington

Gov. Inslee has announced that $188.1 million of the state of Washington’s share of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) will be allocated to local governments. Of that, $125.9 million will go to cities and counties (in addition to the $297.0 million that was allocated to them in May) and $62.2 million will go […]