On Thursday, Governor Jay Inslee released his proposed 2019-21 biennial and budgets. For a detailed analysis and summary of the Governor鈥檚 proposals, please see OPB鈥檚 brief on this page.
The Governor鈥檚 operating budget assumes significant new revenue from the creation of a capital gains tax, increasing the business and occupation tax rate for professional services, and modifying the real estate excise tax.
His proposed biennial operating budget would significantly increase appropriations to higher education institutions and student financial aid. The Governor鈥檚 budgets also invest heavily in the state鈥檚 behavioral health system鈥攊ncluding planning a partnership with UW鈥檚 health science schools to expand the workforce and clinical care through telemedicine and new clinical facilities, recovery efforts for Southern Resident Killer Whales, and steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The release of the Governor鈥檚 budget proposals represents the first step in a lengthy budget process. Lawmakers in the Senate and the House will have the opportunity to release their own budget proposals over the course of the 2019 legislative session 鈥 set to begin on Monday, January 14, 2019.
For more information regarding the UW鈥檚 current requests for state funding, please see OPB鈥檚 2019-21 operating and capital request submissions on the .
Stay tuned to the OPBlog for updates during the 2019 legislative session!