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House supplemental operating
budget would add $305 million in new
state spending
Statement from
State
Rep. Gary Alexander, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations
Committee:
“We have a multi-billion
dollar budget shortfall estimate from nonpartisan Senate staff and the
governor’s office and House Democrats are dismissing it as ‘political.’
The surplus we did have is being spent and was the result of a hot
housing market. That sector has normalized and it has left irresponsible
budgeting practices exposed. It’s misleading to suggest there's a
surplus when we know what is directly ahead of us.
“Olympia does not have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem.
And with $305 million in new state spending added by this budget – that
spending problem deepens further.
“I don’t know what it is going to take to stop this out-of-control state
spending. There’s an imbalance in the budget process and no Democrat is
willing to stand up and demand fiscal accountability.”
House supplemental operating budget facts:
Including appropriations in other legislation, it adds $305 million to
the current state operating budget – $69 million higher than the
governor.
February caseload adjustments account for about $74 million in
additional spending.
It would increase the Near General Fund spending growth rate to 16.2
percent for the biennium, with a revenue growth rate of 7.3 percent and
slowing.
Other state spending
facts:
Nonpartisan Senate Ways and Means staff released a four-year outlook in
mid-February showing projected budget shortfalls of $2.4 billion in
2009-11 and over $5 billion in 2011-13.
State spending has increased 33 percent, $8.4 billion, in the
last four years.
The 2007-09 state operating budget currently includes $2.1 billion in
new and expanded state programs, but offers no significant reduction,
efficiencies or savings in state government, except a reduction in
employee pension benefits.
The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council’s February forecast showed
decreasing revenues over what was expected in November by $423.4
million.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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