On Thursday Gov. Jay Inslee signed a historically large supplemental state budget. The $64.1 billion spending plan is a $5 billion increase from the $59 billion budget he signed less than a year ago. In addition to spending a surging surplus of tax monies, the budget also spends more than $1 billion in remaining pandemic-related federal relief funds.

The Legislature hit the gas on spending but bypassed many opportunities for meaningful, structural tax relief, AWB President Kris Johnson wrote in his most recent column printed in newspapers across the state.

“It would have been the perfect time to give more of Washington’s astonishing surplus back to taxpayers, something we’ve seen other states do as state treasuries have swelled during the pandemic era,” Johnson wrote. “Bills to lower the state sales tax rate or reduce the B&O tax for manufacturers were introduced, but failed to even get a hearing as lawmakers appeared more intent on spending.”

Last year’s budget increased spending by $3.9 billion. This year’s supplemental budget increased spending by almost $5.1 billion. That’s the first time since modern budgetary record-keeping began that a supplemental budget has increased spending by more than the original budget in the same two-year budget cycle, according to an analysis by the Washington Research Council.

Contact Government Affairs Director Tommy Gantz to learn more and get involved.