1 week Ago
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington Legislature passed its budget Sunday, to mark the last day of the legislative session. House Democrats believe the $77.
1 billion operating budget will protect essential services and support K-12 education. The new budget will allocate $750 million to special education services and $213 million to materials, supplies, and operating costs. Part of the budget includes $200 million for local effort assistance funding to support students in low-income school districts.
After deliberating during the legislative session, the final budget proposal calls for $8.7 billion in taxes, no government furloughs, $100 million for law enforcement and keeps the state's "Rainy Day" fund untouched. The budget heads to Gov.
Bob Ferguson's desk for approval. Gov. Ferguson told TFW Sunday morning he likes the budget proposal more than previous iterations because it relies on fewer tax increases.
“House Democrats started this process with a goal of protecting health, food, and shelter," said Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane), House Appropriations Chair. "This budget protects those crucial programs for Washington families, while also addressing significant needs in our public schools, particularly in special education. We were able to do all this by taking a balanced approach, avoiding calls for an all-cuts budget that would be devastating to Washington’s families, workers, and communities with the most need.
I am grateful for the partnership with my Senate colleagues and for the support of the House Democratic Caucus." In response to a mounting state deficit, House Democrats said in a release Sunday the new budget proposes $3.1 billion in cuts in the 2025-27 biennium, a $7 billion reduction over four years.
“This was a year that demanded hard, often painful choices,” said June Robinson (D-Everett), Senate Ways & Means Chair said. “We knew the stakes were high — for families, for workers, for communities across our state. Every decision was made with care, focused on protecting essential services, supporting our schools, and investing where the need is greatest.
We listened to Washingtonians and worked to deliver a budget that reflects the seriousness of this moment and the responsibility we owe to the people we serve.” Republicans in the Senate gave speeches encouraging votes against the budget proposal, citing concerns over tax increases. "Every time we raise a tax that takes money out of someone's pocket," said Sen.
Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn. Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, opposed tax increases, but was glad to see budget writers include $100 million for law enforcement agencies to hire additional officers.
"There are parts (of the budget) I feel distaste for, but this is a golden egg," Cheney said. House Democrats said new policy investments will total about $500 million per year, down from $2.4 billion from 2023-2025.
Lawmakers said this will preserve $2.3 billion in reserves by the end of 2027..
