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Department of Services for the Blind

  Average Annual FTEs Near General Fund State Other Funds Total Funds
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Current Budget 96.0 16,435 35,111 51,546
2025-27 Maintenance Level 96.0 11,964 31,949 43,913
Difference from 2025-27 Original 0.0 (4,471) (3,162) (7,633)
% Change from 2025-27 Original 0.0% (27.2%) (9.0%) (14.8%)

2025 Policy Other Changes

Tribal Vocational Rehab. Support 0.0 198 0 198
Administrative Savings 0.0 (200) 0 (200)
2025 Policy Other Changes Total 0.0 (2) 0 (2)

2025 Policy Comp Changes

WFSE General Government 0.0 657 0 657
Non-Rep General Wage Increase 0.0 184 0 184
Updated PEBB Rate 0.0 (31) 0 (31)
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase 0.0 14 0 14
Pension Benefit Amortization 0.0 (50) 0 (50)
2025 Policy Comp Changes Total 0.0 774 0 774

2025 Policy Central Services Changes

Legal Services 0.0 2 0 2
WTS Central Services 0.0 30 0 30
DES Central Services 0.0 82 0 82
OFM Central Services 0.0 154 0 154
GOV Central Services 0.0 1 0 1
2025 Policy Central Services Changes Total 0.0 269 0 269
Total Policy Changes 0.0 1,041 0 1,041
2025-27 Policy Level 96.0 13,005 31,949 44,954
Difference from 2023-25 0.0 (3,430) (3,162) (6,592)
% Change from 2025-27 Original 0.0% (20.9%) (9.0%) (12.8%)

Policy Changes

Tribal Vocational Rehab. Support

Funding is provided for grants to federally recognized Tribes in Washington to support culturally appropriate vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and youth support services for Tribal members who are blind, low-visioned, or deafblind. It is estimated that 87 Tribal members will benefit from these services. (General Fund - State)

Administrative Savings

Funding is reduced to reflect decreased administrative expenses in fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027. (General Fund - State)

WFSE General Government

Funding for bargaining includes a 3%/2% general wage increase, targeted job classification increases, wildfire disaster leave, expanded bereavement leave, and paid vaccine travel time during pandemic emergencies. The agreement also includes: an additional $1 per hour supplemental shift premium for eligible employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are performed on location on evenings and weekends; 5% premium pay for employees who are assigned to a 24/7 facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, at-risk youth, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location, which will be in effect for the 2025–27 biennium; three additional steps on the nurse salary schedule; and an increase to the annual lump-sum payment for employees in LNI risk codes 7200/7201 from $500 to $750. (General Fund - State)

Non-Rep General Wage Increase

Funding is provided for wage increases for state employees who are not represented by a union or are not under a bargaining agreement that is subject to financial feasibility determination. It is sufficient for a general wage increase of 3%, effective July 1, 2025, and a general wage increase of 2%, effective July 1, 2026. This item includes both general government and higher education workers. (General Fund - State)

Updated PEBB Rate

This item adjusts the employer funding rate for public employee insurance benefits to reflect policy-level decision packages. It increases the rate by $8 per month in the first fiscal year and decreases the rate by $34 per month in the second fiscal year, compared to the maintenance-level update, for a total rate of $1,315 in the first year and $1,355 in the second year. (General Fund - State)

PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase

An adjustment is made for pension contribution rates, including to fund a benefit increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month for eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members. (General Fund - State)

Pension Benefit Amortization

An adjustment is made to the base pension rates, as set out in a proposed bill addressing the calculation of the base rate for the 2025–27 biennium, as well as amortization of Plan 1 benefit increases. (General Fund - State)

Legal Services

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of legal services provided by the Attorney General's Office. Because legal services expenditures are based on consumption, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. The methodology to estimate consumption is a two-year average and allows for analysis to incorporate unique agency circumstances. (General Fund - State)

WTS Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Washington Technology Solutions for the Office of Cybersecurity, state network, enterprise and small agency IT services, enterprise architecture and data management, Microsoft 365 licenses, and other items. (General Fund - State)

DES Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services for Capitol Campus costs; real estate, risk management, and small agency services; the Perry Street and Capitol Campus child care centers; enterprise applications, and other items. (General Fund - State)

OFM Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of Financial Management for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services. See Chapter 11 of the 2025–27 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State)

GOV Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of the Governor for the Office of Equity. (General Fund - State)