State budgets, signed Thursday, include money for local projects

Among the provisions are money to build a Community Recovery Center in Lynnwood and aid Afghan refugees in Snohomish County.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331

Associated Press and Herald staff

OLYMPIA — A $63.8 billion supplemental state budget that spends on statewide programs ranging from homelessness and behavioral health and the ongoing COVID-19 response was signed Thursday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The supplemental budget builds on the $59 billion, two-year spending plan adopted by the Legislature last year, and it benefited from a significant influx of tax revenue the state has seen over the past year. Additionally, lawmakers allocated more than $1 billion in unspent pandemic-related federal relief funds in the budget.

For Snohomish County, the supplemental budget contains $341,000 for the state’s share of the cost to add two Snohomish County Superior Court judges. There also are grants totaling $5.6 million to Snohomish County to assist refugees from Afghanistan.

While the supplemental budget has no general tax increases, it also has no across-the-board tax cuts, something Republicans had argued for throughout the legislative session that ended March 10.

A business tax credit was included that would affect about 125,000 small businesses in the state, and it was among bills signed by Inslee Thursday.

Starting in January, businesses making less than $125,000 a year would pay no state business taxes, and for those making up to $250,000 a year, business taxes will be cut in half.

The supplemental operating budget also spends state or federal money on things like adding more nurses and counselors for students, increasing rates to vendors providing services to people with developmental disabilities or long-term care needs and shoring up the state’s paid family leave program, which officials warned was nearing a deficit.

It also allots funding for raises for state workers. According to the Office of Financial Management, about 63,800 general government employees will get a 3.25% general wage increase, about 6,700 state corrections workers will get a 4% wage boost and about 1,200 Washington State Patrol officers will get a 10% pay hike. The last general wage increase for represented employees was July 1, 2020.

The operating budget also transfers more than $2 billion to the nearly $17 billion, 16-year transportation revenue package that Inslee signed last week. The budget leaves about $3 billion in total reserves.

Inslee implemented several full or partial vetoes of bills, including a section of a bill that would have expanded the state’s existing warehouse sales and use tax to include smaller warehouses of at least 100,000 square feet. In his veto notice, Inslee said that while he understood the importance of manufacturing and warehousing to rural economies, the tax incentives in the bill were overly broad.

Inslee on Thursday also signed a $1.5 billion state construction budget that spends on areas ranging from housing, homelessness, behavioral health facilities and seismic upgrades at public schools.

That will steer $12 million to Lynnwood for construction of the proposed Community Recovery Center next to the city’s new Community Justice Center. Also included are $300,000 for a Snohomish teen center, $206,000 for the Edmonds Boys & Girls Club and $1.7 million for the Darrington Wood Innovation Center.

Herald writer Jerry Cornfield contributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Janet Garcia walks into the courtroom for her arraignment at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Monday, April 22, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett mother found competent to stand trial in stabbing death of 4-year-old son

A year after her arraignment, Janet Garcia appeared in court Wednesday for a competency hearing in the death of her son, Ariel Garcia.

Everett council member to retire at end of term

Liz Vogeli’s retirement from the council opens up the race in the November election for Everett’s District 4 seat.

Washington State Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn speaks during the Economic Alliance Snohomish County’s Annual Meeting and Awards events on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Commerce boss: How Washington state can make it easier for small businesses

Joe Nguyen made the remarks Wednesday during the annual meeting of the Economic Alliance Snohomish County and the Snohomish County Awards

LifeWise local co-directors Darcie Hammer and Sarah Sweeny talk about what a typical classroom routine looks like on Monday, April 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett off-campus Bible program draws mixed reaction from parents

The weekly optional program, LifeWise Academy, takes children out of public school during the day for religious lessons.

An EcoRemedy employee checks a control panel of their equipment at the Edmonds Wastewater Treatment Plant on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds launches technology to destroy PFAS

Edmonds is the first city in the country to implement… Continue reading

Mary Ann Karber, 101, spins the wheel during Wheel of Forunte at Washington Oakes on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lunch and Wheel of Fortune with some Everett swinging seniors

She’s 101 and he’s 76. At Washington Oakes, fun and friendship are on the menu.

Members of the Washington Public Employees Association will go without a wage hike for a year. They turned down a contract last fall. They eventually ratified a new deal in March, lawmakers chose not to fund it in the budget. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
Thousands of Washington state workers lose out on wage hikes

They rejected a new contract last fall. They approved one in recent weeks, but lawmakers said it arrived too late to be funded in the budget.

Founder of Faith Lutheran Food Bank Roxana Boroujerd helps direct car line traffic while standing next to a whiteboard alerting clients to their date of closing on Friday, April 25, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Faith Food Bank to close, replacement uncertain

The food bank’s last distribution day will be May 9, following a disagreement with the church over its lease.

Christian Sayre sits in the courtroom before the start of jury selection on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jury selection begins in latest trial of former Everett bar owner

Opening statements for Christian Sayre’s fourth trial are scheduled for Monday. It is expected to conclude by May 16.

Ian Terry / The Herald

Zachary Mallon, an ecologist with the Adopt A Stream Foundation, checks the banks of Catherine Creek in Lake Stevens for a spot to live stake a willow tree during a volunteer event on Saturday, Feb. 10. Over 40 volunteers chipped in to plant 350 trees and lay 20 cubic yards of mulch to help provide a natural buffer for the stream.

Photo taken on 02102018
Snohomish County salmon recovery projects receive $1.9M in state funding

The latest round of Climate Commitment Act dollars will support fish barrier removals and habitat restoration work.

Fosse will not seek reelection; 2 candidates set to run for her seat

Mason Rutledge and Sam Hem announced this week they will seek the District 1 City Council position.

A few significant tax bills form the financial linchpin to the state’s next budget and would generate the revenue needed to erase a chunk of a shortfall Ferguson has pegged at $16 billion over the next four fiscal years. The tax package is expected to net around $9.4 billion over that time. (Stock photo)
Five tax bills lawmakers passed to underpin Washington’s next state budget

Business tax hikes make up more than half of the roughly $9 billion package, which still needs a sign-off from Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.