Democrats propose budget without tax hike or tax cut

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Democrats in Olympia are proposing no new taxes in the state budget plans they released today.

Tackling homelessness gets $140 million from the Senate --- $235 million in the House budget. It would buy more emergency shelter and supportive housing.

House Appropriations chair Timm Ormsby emotionally recalled walking in his home city of Spokane.

“Only to turn the corner and there was a couple under a blanket to keep warm, and it struck me we have more work to do,” he said.

When it comes to public safety, we asked about what law enforcement leaders told us on Friday about big cuts to community corrections officers who follow ex-inmates once they leave prison.

Asked if the budget cut 200 community corrections officers, Ormsby responded, “There were no cuts in community corrections,; we increased our investment in community corrections.” According to details supplied by policy staff, the equivalent of six full-time community corrections officers will be cut between now and June 30 of next year. But $11 million will be added to help offenders’ transition back into society. Services will include, drug treatment, drug courts, housing vouchers and legal aid.

A separate House transportation budget lifts the hold on projects stopped when $30 Car Tab Initiative 976 passed.

It preserves transportation for those with special needs. But it relies on one-time savings from the 2017 budget to close a $494 million revenue gap.

“Not a lot of flexibility. Going to get worse next biennium, but we did what we can to [help] vulnerable folks in the state of Washington,” said Jake Fey, House Transportation chair.

Still, with a prosperous economy adding $1.5 billion to state revenues, Republicans want citizens to get a tax cut.

“We think it's time to take some of this immense surplus and send it back to the taxpayers,” said House Minority Leader J. T. Wilcox.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee chair, Christine Rolfes, said, “This is a time to look at what the needs are and address the emerging and underfunded needs of the state, and make sure that we're set up for next year in a sustainable way.”

Today’s additions would bring the two-year state budget ending next June to roughly $54 billion. Hearings and key votes will happen this week.

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