What happened?
Gov. Chris Gregoire put out her proposed budget and it details how she wants to spend $66.1 billion to run government in the two years from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011. This covers all three of the state’s budgets — operating, capital and transportation.
What’s the fuss?
It’s with her $33.5 billion budget used to fund daily operations of the state agencies. For months, the state has taken in a lot less revenue because of the recession. It’s led to a $5.7 billion gap between what the governor would like to fund, such as pay raises for state workers, and what she can afford. This is the deficit everyone is talking about.
How did she deal with this deficit?
She proposed no pay hikes for state workers for one thing. She’s calling for cuts in every area of state government. For example, 13 state parks could close. A program that pays for vaccines for children in lower-income families could go away. An estimated 2,600 people could lose their jobs and potentially thousands of working poor and unemployed lose benefits from the state.
Will the budget be balanced?
Yes, with one big caveat. Gregoire’s plan relies on receiving $1 billion in money from the federal government. She’s counting on President-elect Obama and Congress to make it happen. If it doesn’t happen, more cutting will be needed.
Did schools take a hit?
Yes. Teachers won’t be getting a 4.1 percent pay raise and school districts will receive less money to help keep class sizes small.
Did she propose new taxes?
No. No fee increases either.
How big is $5.7 billion?
Very big. If you closed all two- and four-year colleges in the state and all state prisons, you would still not save enough money to reach that figure.
What’s next?
The Legislature convenes in January. Legislators will debate her plan and come up with their own versions, and then negotiations will begin on a final budget.
— Jerry Cornfield
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