Office of Financial Management

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a directive to executive and small cabinet agencies today to freeze all hiring, personal service contracts and equipment purchases. The directive aims to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Washington's economy and financial outlook.

Facing a growing fiscal threat posed by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, Gov. Jay Inslee used his line-item veto authority today to trim $235 million from the 2020 supplemental operating budget the Legislature approved last month. The vetoes will reduce spending another $210 million in the state’s next two-year budget.

State funds totaling $171 million have been distributed to state agencies and institutions to use to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak crisis. This is part of a total $200 million in funds budgeted by the Legislature in Engrossed House Bill 2965. The current allocations are:

May 18, 2020:

OLYMPIA – Washington’s projected Near General Fund revenue collections for the 2019–21 state budget have increased by $606 million, according to estimates released today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

“There has been a slight improvement in revenues above our anticipated level this quarter,” said Steve Lerch, forecast council executive director. “But nothing that suggests fundamental changes to our previous forecast.”

Gov. Jay Inslee released his 2020 supplemental budget proposal Wednesday with substantial investments that address the statewide homelessness crisis, expand early learning and strengthen the foster care system, and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in government, schools and communities.

Gov. Jay Inslee recently signed an executive order that directs Washington state agencies to update many of the state’s technology systems — some of them from the dinosaur era, in computer years. These systems help the state continue uninterrupted services to Washingtonians and are overdue for important and more current technology updates.

Washington’s projected Near General Fund revenue collections for the 2019–21 state budget have increased by nearly $299 million, according to estimates released today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

“The Washington economic and revenue outlook remains positive without significant changes since our previous forecast,” said Steve Lerch, forecast council executive director. “This update reflects these modest changes.”

OLYMPIA – Washington’s projected Near General Fund revenue collections for the 2019–21 state budget have increased by nearly $447 million, according to estimates released today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

“The economic forecast is relatively similar to what we expected in June, but higher than expected collections, including estate tax collections, have resulted in an increase in the revenue forecast for the 2019–21 biennium,” said Steve Lerch, forecast council executive director.

As of April 1, 2019, an estimated 7,546,400 people reside in the State of Washington, according to annual estimates prepared by the Office of Financial Management.

OLYMPIA – Washington’s projected Near General Fund revenue collections for the 2019–21 state budget have increased by nearly $432 million, according to estimates released today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The increase is due in large part to measures passed during the 2019 legislative session that adjourned in April.

“Revenues and economic activity are tracking very closely to the previous forecast,” said Steve Lerch, forecast council executive director. “And this update reflects these modest changes.”