Democratic lawmakers agree to $64 billion operating budget 1 day before session adjourns
One day ahead of the end of the 2022 legislative session, Washington lawmakers agreed on a $64 billion supplemental operating budget to invest in areas such as public schools, homelessness, and health care.
Additionally, $2 billion will be allocated from the operating budget to the Move Ahead Washington Transportation package introduced this year and agreed upon by lawmakers on Wednesday afternoon.
Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, worked on the supplemental budget this year. During the Conference Committee for the budget proposal on Wednesday she noted additional investments in COVID-19-related spending, behavioral health and rate increases for some state workers.
“We were blessed with both state revenue and federal resources that we were able to invest in our communities and our people,” she said, referring to the $2.7 billion in additional state revenue projected a few weeks ago, as well as the one-time federal funding for this year.
No new tax increases were added, but Republicans were critical of Democrats’ decisions not to provide any tax relief for Washingtonians despite the news of the projected revenue forecast.
Legislation was introduced this session to create a tax-free holiday weekend for Washingtonians to buy things such as school supplies and appliances, but the legislation failed to pass.
But Democrats did include a proposal in the budget to remove B&O taxes for businesses that make less than $125,000 a year. Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, who helped craft the operating budget, said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that about 125,000 businesses in Washington would see some relief starting in January 2023.
Republicans were also critical that the supplemental budget proposal was introduced without any input from them.
During the committee meeting Wednesday, Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, expressed his frustrations, saying he didn’t see what was in the conference report until an hour or so before the meeting, and was not invited to participate in the negotiations of the budget.
“I appreciate Chair Ormsby’s willingness to at least hear and receive my input but unfortunately it was mostly one-way, non-real time communication and I continued to suggest that all of our constituents would be much better served if we were to be more collaborative…” Stokesbary said.
He said that Republicans still represent 40 percent of voters and for them not to have a voice in crafting the budget does them a disservice.
Stokesbary and Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, did not vote to recommend the report on Wednesday, while the four other Democrats on the committee voted to recommend the supplemental budget.
The long list of supplemental budget items includes investments in salmon habitat and recovery, broadband expansion, and affordable housing services.
The House and Senate were to vote Thursday on the supplemental operating budget prior to adjourning for the year.
The 2022 legislative session will adjourn Thursday after a short 60-day session. The legislature will reconvene in January 2023.
