The Legislature adjusts spending budget (up mostly)

The Legislature continues its mostly virtual session in Olympia and will soon be approaching the second month of session. With all three of the state’s two-year budgets approved last April during the 105-day session, the primary focus of the current legislative session is to make adjustments as needed to the existing budgets. The Legislature is now considering adjustments to those budgets during the second half of the current session -- so it is helpful to review the existing budgets. 

All three budgets authorize spending throughout the two-year period from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023. The operating budget ($59.2 billion), transportation budget ($11.8 billion), and capital budget ($6.3 billion) were finalized after much negotiation in April 2021 during the final days of session.

This is a graphic level presentation of the budgets.  

The state operating budget has grown considerably in recent years. The 2013-15 budget authorized $33.9 billion in state spending. The budget approved on April 25 for the 2021-23 biennium is $59.2 billion, which represents an increase of nearly 75 percent over the 10-year period, which is well beyond inflation costs.

The operating budget funds the day-to-day operations of the state, including K-12 education, higher education, human services, natural resources, and other programs. Nearly half of state expenditures are dedicated to K-12 education. Other expenditures include Medicaid, long-term care, and other programs.

For more information on Washington State spending budgets, click here.