Public schools funding in the capital budgets and a proposed new grant program for school construction
The Senate-passed capital budget would appropriate $876.4 million from all funds for public schools in 2023–25, and it assumes that the appropriations for the funded projects would total $6.868 billion over 10 years. The capital budget approved by the House Committee on Capital Budget would appropriate $844.1 million from all funds for public schools in […]
17th of April 2023
Comparing the Senate and House capital budgets
The Senate passed its capital budget (ESSB 5200) on March 24. It has not yet passed its bond bill (SSB 5201). As approved by the Ways & Means Committee, the bond bill would authorize $4.167 billion in general obligation bonds. The House has not yet passed either its capital budget (SHB 1147) or its bond […]
10th of April 2023
New brief: Comparing the Senate- and House-Passed Operating Budgets
Compared to the 2022 supplemental, the Senate-passed operating budget proposal would increase 2023–25 appropriations by 8.2% and the House-passed proposal would increase appropriations by 9.4%. Neither the Senate nor the House would increase general taxes. To fund the new, ongoing spending, both proposals—but especially the House’s—would use one-time funds, including reserves. Read the report here.
7th of April 2023
Under Senate and House budget proposals, paid family and medical leave premium rate could increase to 0.82% or 0.83% next year
SSB 5286, which would make changes to the paid family and medical leave (PFML) rate structure, has been passed by both the Senate and the House. I described the bill here. The bill requires the premiums to be set to maintain a new three-month reserve. The legislative task force on paid family and medical leave […]
3rd of April 2023
The hospital safety net assessment program could be permanently extended; budget proposals assume $452 million in general fund savings in 2025–27
The Legislature looks set to extend and overhaul the hospital safety net assessment (HSNA) this year. Under current law, an assessment is levied on hospitals’ non-Medicare inpatient days. The collections are then returned to providers as Medicaid payments, which generates the federal Medicaid match. Those funds can be used to supplant state spending. This policy […]
Tax policy, benefit policy, and economic impact provisos in the budget proposals
The Senate and House 2023–25 operating budget proposals include various provisos related to tax policy, benefit policy, and economic impacts. (This post refers to the budget proposals as passed by the Senate and approved by the House Appropriations Committee.) First, the Senate proposal would reauthorize the Tax Structure Workgroup (TSWG). In December, the TSWG recommended […]
29th of March 2023
The mystery of the higher education funding swap
The Senate operating budget proposal includes a mostly hidden swap of higher education funding for the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) that would result in more spending from the workforce education investment account (WEIA). First, some background on the WEIA: The account may be used for higher education purposes, and it “must be used to […]
W&M operating budget amendments would transfer more from reserves to fund additional spending
On Monday, the Senate Ways & Means (W&M) Committee amended and passed its chair’s operating budget proposal. Adopted amendments would increase appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $191.1 million in 2023–25. Total NGFO appropriations for 2023–25 would be $69.375 billion. Of the changes, the maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services, […]
27th of March 2023
Senate chair’s 2023 supplemental would reduce 2021–23 appropriations by $711.5 million
As in Gov. Inslee’s operating budget proposal, the Senate Ways & Means Committee chair’s 2023–25 proposal balances in part thanks to reductions in appropriations for 2021–23. The Senate chair’s 2023 supplemental proposal would reduce 2021–23 appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $711.5 million. Maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted […]
24th of March 2023
Like the governor’s operating budget proposal, the Senate chair’s is heavy on provider rates and compensation
The Senate Ways & Means Committee chair’s operating budget proposal would increase appropriations from funds subject to the outlook (NGFO) by $5.059 billion compared to the enacted 2022 supplemental. (That includes appropriations in other legislation.) The maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services, adjusted for enrollment and inflation) is estimated to increase by $914.5 […]