Dear friends and neighbors,

We are scheduled for just two more weeks of this legislative session. We have voted on hundreds of bills, some of them good and some of them not-so-good. A couple of weeks ago, budget proposals were introduced in the House and the Senate. I'd like to share information about those budgets with you and what they mean for you and your family or business.

The state has three separate budgets, all funded from different sources. Each of these budgets serve different purposes.

Operating budget

The operating budget pays for the daily expenses of state government: education, health care, public safety and more.

Here's a chart showing where the state currently brings in dollars from taxpayers for the operating budget (note: "B&O" is the business and occupation tax) :  

The majority proposes to use $5 billion in one-time dollars to solve the almost $9 billion deficit in this budget. While we expect to continue to bring in about the same revenue we have in the last two years, if not more, spending has outpaced this revenue, causing a shortfall. Depending on one-time dollars to keep ongoing programs and services going is irresponsible budgeting, because in two years we may be right back where we are today.

About $3.8 billion in cuts are proposed, and already we are hearing arguments for raising sales taxes to make up for cuts. As you can see from the chart below, Washington is not lacking in taxes. In fact, the Tax Foundation rates Washington 8th in the nation for the highest tax burden.

Hard working families don't need a tax increase when they're struggling to make ends meet. I believe it's time to prioritize government, to take care of our state's most vulnerable and provide a more efficient government that serves the taxpayers who pay for it.

Capital budget

The capital budget is often referred to as the state's "brick-and-mortar" budget. It pays for the construction of public hospitals, higher education facilities, prisons, K-12 school buildings and other community projects. The revenue for this budget comes from the sale of bonds on public lands and from other user fees and taxes.

Of the $5 billion in one-time dollars proposed to solve the operating budget's deficit, $780 million is proposed to be taken from the capital budget to backfill the operating budget. We need these dollars in the capital budget to pay for important community projects that will not only improve the state's assets, but also create jobs.

Transportation budget

The transportation budget pays for construction and maintenance of the state's highways, bridges and ferries. It is funded mostly by the gas tax, car tab fees and trucking fees. 

Last week, the House passed the transportation budget, Senate Bill 5352. I voted 'no' because I feel it's a short-term budget that does not fulfill many of the promises made to complete projects with the gas tax years ago.

Please feel free to contact me about these or any other issue that is important to you. My contact information is at the top.

Rep. Bruce Chandler
15th District State Representative

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