Washington House Democrats Make Budget Proposal
Washington Legislature
OLYMPIA -- House Democrats have unveiled a supplemental budget proposal that looks to change the timing of payments to schools and makes some cuts to higher education and state programs for nearly $890 million in savings to the state budget.
The proposal unveiled Tuesday does not ask voters to consider a temporary sales tax increase, as suggested by Gov. Chris Gregoire. House Democrats want to leave $504 million in reserves in their budget that addresses a $1 billion budget problem through June 2013.
The biggest saving comes from delaying $405 million in some payments to schools so that they fall into the next two-year budget cycle that begins July 2013.
Senate Democrats are expected to unveil their budget proposal next week. The 60-day legislative session ends March 8.