Recent Press- WA revenue forecast: flat but 'awesome' - Spokesman.com - Feb. 16, 2012 February 19, 2012
- Most Issaquah representatives support ‘historic’ same-sex marriage bill : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds and More in Issaquah, WA February 12, 2012
- Join 48th Legislative District lawmakers for town hall meeting : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds and More in Issaquah, WA February 9, 2012
- House GOP lays out education budget - The Politics Blog - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington news, weather and sports February 4, 2012
- Fund ed first, House Republicans say - Spin Control - Spokesman.com - Feb. 2, 2012 February 4, 2012
Category Archives: Budget
More on the Slow Motion Default in Wenatchee
In December we passed a bill out of Ways and Means, and then the House, but not the Senate that would have allowed Wenatchee to solve its own problems about financing their money-hemorrhaging arena, the Town Toyota Center. The region … Continue reading
Good Revenue and Caseload Forecasts Reduce Severity of Budget Problem
Actually, we “found” about $87 million in the revenue forecast update and about $330 million in projections of less usage of state services over the remainder of the biennium. In addition to this there has been less utilization of services … Continue reading
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Educational Goals: penny-wise and pound-foolish decisions
The Ways and Means committee heard a number of contentious bills Saturday, including HB 2538, which is intended to save money for school districts by reducing requirements that the legislature has placed on them without funding. It was requested by … Continue reading
Landmark Supreme Court Case
The week before session the Washington Supreme Court decided the McCleary case unanimously in favor of the plaintiffs – two families and a number of school districts who claimed that the state had historically underfunded its primary duty to fund … Continue reading
Data on State Employee Compensation
I’ve answered a lot of mail in the past few weeks and one theme that threads through many of the emails is that the number of state employees is increasing rapidly, that they are paid way too much, and that … Continue reading
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Washington State and local taxes drop to lowest level in 50 years
The DOR released this as part of their “Revenue Update” for the month. Washington’s state and local taxes (as a percent of personal income) dropped to their lowest level in 50 years in Fiscal Year 2009, according to new figures … Continue reading
Posted in Budget, Tax Policy
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Post-Special Session Newsletter
Now that the “special” session is over I’ve been motivated to write a newsletter that answers many of the questions I’ve received in email. If you want to print it click here for the PDF version that’s better formatted for … Continue reading
Internet Sales Growth Explosive, Compared to In-Store Sales
The following article was sent to me by the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Governing Board, an organization representing more than half the states that charge sales tax. In it you see the shift to Internet retailing and the consequent … Continue reading
Posted in Budget, Tax Policy
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Budget “down-payment” will be heard today
OLYMPIA – A bipartisan plan to take a big bite out of the projected $2 billion state budget shortfall will be heard Monday by the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill, sponsored by Chair Ross Hunter, D-Medina, makes $479.7 … Continue reading
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Slow-Motion Default in Wenatchee
I’m disappointed that the Legislature failed to address the slow-motion financial default in progress in Wenatchee. 7 cities and 2 counties got together and agreed to build an arena in Wenatchee. They used a stream of money from the state … Continue reading