Governor Inslee released his proposed budgets for the 2020 legislative session. Having enacted full two-year budgets last year, this year’s proposals should be more modest in scope – focusing on necessary adjustments to the bills passed last year.
Governor Inslee’s Budget Highlights note that Washington’s economy continues to expand and the state’s revenue continues to make modest but steady gains. He notes that this growth is offset by rising caseloads and enrollments in a number of programs and by the increasing costs of maintaining services at current levels, something local government officials are certainly familiar with.
The governor is focusing on homelessness and housing, adding $146 million to the current budget and $300 million over the next three years, which he proposes to fund using the state’s “rainy day fund” or emergency reserve. The governor’s supplemental transportation budget details his plan to address the funding losses resulting from Initiative 976 by redirecting existing resources, accessing fund balances, and deferring certain planned projects.
More detailed, subject matter specific blog posts, as well as a comprehensive analysis of Governor Inslee’s proposals, will be released over the next few days as WSAC policy staff are able to dig more deeply into the bill drafts.
SUBJECT SPECIFIC POSTS:
The First Gifts of the Season – Gov’s Budget on Land Use & Solid Waste
Governor’s Budget Continues Support for Many Public Health Priorities
