How Washington's Tax Increases Compare to Those Enacted in Other States

A new Budget & Policy Center analysis shows how Washington's recent tax increases compare to increases enacted in other states during the recession.

The report, which provides an overview of the revenue measures enacted in Washington State in 2009 and 2010, finds that tax increases are a common and reasonable way to preserve services during a recession. 

Since the recession began, at least 33 states (including Washington State) have increased taxes to help maintain public priorities.i

Figure A shows how Washington State’s tax increases passed in 2009 and 2010 compare with those enacted in other states. The data on other states is only available through 2009. Once actions in other states in 2010 have been tallied, the number of states that have enacted tax increases will likely be even larger.

Washington State joins 20 other states that have increased taxes by more than one percent since the start of the recession.  At least 10 of these states increased taxes by more than 5 percent.

In Washington State, taxes were increased by about 3.6 percent of total state tax revenues.ii Even without including tax actions taken in other states this year, this falls below the national average. Nationwide, states increased taxes on net by 3.8 percent of total revenues.

For more information on Washington's recent revenue measures, click here to view the entire report.

i Nicholas Johnson, Catherine Collins, and Ashali Singham, “State Tax Changes in Response to the Recession,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 8, 2010, http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3108.

ii Washington State Budget & Policy Center Analysis of data from OFM, DOR, and the U.S. Census Bureau.