DIY budget calculator ...
Filling the gi-ormous $6 billion state budget chasm is the No.1 task of the Washington Legislature right now ... and the problem is quite likely to get even worse when the state Revenue Forecast Council issues an interim update on February 19th. What to do? Governor Gregoire still is sticking by her read-my-lips pledge against tax and fee increases, but the Democratic majorities in the Legislature are pretty cranky about the budget cuts that she proposes to achieve a balanced budget. The governor and her budget office are offering a "budget calculator"
http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/budget/calculator.asp
if you'd like to try your hand at writing the new two-year operating budget. Fair warning: It's not as easy as you might think. Much of the budget -- debt service, pensions, entitlements, and much of K-12 -- is largely shielded by constitutional protection or federal law. And the question of finding additional revenue, including tax-and-spend measures placed on the statewide ballot, still has not surfaced publicly, but don't get all shocked when it does. Stay tuned on that. Meanwhile, go forth and slay that sacred cow. Feel free to send us your comments and we'll forward them to the right people.(html)
Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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