Gov. Chris Gregoire today proposed her 2009-11 state budget, closing a projected $5.7 billion shortfall through a combination of program reductions, suspension of state employee, teacher and care worker salary increases, pension changes, increased federal contributions and the use of the state’s rainy day fund.
The governor’s proposed budget will close the projected shortfall without raising taxes.
“Now is not the time to be raising taxes on our residents and businesses,” Gregoire said. “Our families are tightening their belts, and thats what government needs to do. The state must squeeze every ounce of value from each taxpayer dollar while maintaining our priorities of protecting families and children the best we can.”
Each part of the state budget will be reduced in the proposed budget. Education and public safety took the smallest cuts, followed by health care, human services and natural resources.
Gregoire’s proposed budget leaves a $507 million ending balance, which includes $100 million in the rainy day fund.
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For more information on Gov. Gregoire’s proposed budget, including a video message from the governor, visit http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/budget/
To view the proposed budget documents, visit http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget09/
