OLYMPIA — Mayors around Washington state have told Gov. Chris Gregoire that her budget-cutting proposals are “intolerable.”
The 115 city leaders who signed on to a letter this week come from every part of the state — from Seattle to Wenatchee to Pullman. They said the cuts do not reflect the longstanding partnership between state and local officials, citing a proposal to stop sharing state liquor taxes and profits.
“These deep cuts are intolerable and, we feel, do not reflect our longstanding partnership,” the mayors wrote in the letter dated Wednesday. They are calling for increased dialogue between the two groups.
Gregoire is looking to find $2 billion in savings due to a projected shortfall. Her recent proposal includes further cuts to higher education, eliminating the state’s health care program for the poor and reducing help to poor school districts. Lawmakers are returning later this month for a special session on the budget, and some Democrats have talked about seeking a tax package to help offset some of the cuts.
Gregoire was traveled to Bellingham on Thursday to discuss the budget situation further, continuing a series of statewide stops to explain her decisions and hear from the public.
Karina Shagren, a spokeswoman for Gregoire, said the governor could have cut more from cities but chose not to.
“The governor has very few options,” Shagren said. “No choice is easy, and she can certainly sympathize with local leaders. Everyone has to sacrifice including our local governments.”
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