Gov. Jay Inslee will grab the spotlight Thursday when he identifies tax breaks he wants to end in order to generate more money for the state’s education system.
The big reveal will be made at 11 a.m. when he intends to release a broad blueprint for balancing the next state budget and pumping as much as $1 billion more into public schools in the coming two years.
His news conference can be watched online on TVW
For weeks, Inslee has promised to provide a list of tax exemptions he wants to end. It’s very possible Inslee will also suggest continuing a surcharge on business and occupation tax on some professional services rather than allowing it to expire in June.
Inslee is ready for a partisan throw down with Republicans who are likely to say his plan raises taxes.
“We know we will take some heat and fire by trying to close tax loopholes,” said Jaime Smith, the governor’s director of media relations. “If they can do what we’re going to do without closing any tax loopholes, we’ll be very curious to see how they can do that.”
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