Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson proposes $4B in reduced spending to help narrow WA’s budget gap

Washington Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Jan. 9 revealed one of his ideas for filling the state’s wide budget gap: cutting state-agency spending by at least $4 billion.

State lawmakers this session will need to figure out how to solve the budget shortfall, estimated to be between $10 billion and $12 billion over the next four years — and possibly more. Ferguson said his plan includes making 6% cuts across state agencies to balance the 2025-2027 budget.

Ferguson broke the news Jan. 9 during the 2025 legislative preview hosted by the Washington State Association of Broadcasters and Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington. His proposals came after three panels of lawmakers had fielded questions about budget cuts, deferred spending and the possibility of new taxes.

The incoming Democratic governor who has been the state’s Attorney General since 2013 is proposing to slash spending while also making new investments in housing, ferries, public safety and more, according to a news release issued during his address. Additional savings would be realized by “sweeping $75 million from regulatory and civil law enforcement agencies, including from the Attorney General’s Office.”

The reductions would not affect basic spending in education, per the release. Instead Ferguson wants to boost the percentage of the budget supporting K-12 education.

Public-safety agencies — such as the Washington State Patrol — wouldn’t be hit with reductions either.

“There are no sacred cows around the budget, other than we’ve identified K-12 education — we’re not touching that. Public safety, right?” Ferguson told reporters during the Jan. 9 preview.

In the coming days, Ferguson will get together with cabinet agencies and the Office of Financial Management to hammer out the details of the proposed across-the-board cuts. He’ll hand over his blueprint to legislative budget writers as well.

The 2025 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 13.

This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM.

Simone Carter

The Olympian

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