State Budget
Widely shared prosperity does not happen by accident. It happens when we deliberately invest in the foundations of a strong economy—broad and equal opportunity to build knowledge and skills, adequate compensation and support for workers, and targeted investments in conditions that foster economic growth.
Washington state’s investments should:
- Provide opportunity for all. Opportunities that most Washingtonians need to prosper—access to high-quality education, health care, transportation, clean environment, and work supports—are cost-effective and improve long-term outcomes for families, communities, and the economy.
- Create better jobs. A thriving middle class is dependent on having enough jobs that allow Washingtonians to get ahead, and policies that reward workers for their productivity. In addition, jobs that maintain our physical infrastructure (construction and maintenance on schools, roads, bridges, transportation) and build knowledge and skills (teachers, job trainers, social workers) strengthen the foundation of a strong economy.
When more people have a chance to reach their full potential and enough economic security to make investments in their future, our economy will grow.
Related research:
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Strengthening Washington's Rainy Day Fund
- Washington’s Budget Stabilization Account or “Rainy Day Fund” (RDF) was created to secure our essential public structures during recessions, natural disasters, and other state emergencies. Due to several design flaws, our current state RDF does not adequately support education, health care, and other important public priorities in times of need...
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Every Dollar Counts: Why it's Time for Tax Expenditure Reform
- The Great Recession has exposed a key flaw in Washington’s state budget process: our failure to systematically account for billions of dollars spent each year on the hundreds of special tax exemptions, credits, preferential rates, and other tax preferences or “tax expenditures.” Now more than ever...
