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Wash. revenue drops $760 million in latest forecast

Credit: AP

by Associated Press

Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Updated Thursday, Nov 19 at 10:46 AM

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OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington's state checkbook has lost another $760 million, pushing the state's budget deficit past $2 billion through mid-2011.

Thursday's official revenue forecast sets the table for Gov. Chris Gregoire to write an updated state budget next month. The Legislature will start working on the problem in January.

It's a pretty big problem. Legislators already cut billions from state spending earlier this year. But they'll have to cut even more, or raise taxes, because state revenue continues to shrink.

Gregoire and some top Democratic legislators have said they're open to tax hikes.
 

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susieque said on November 19, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Let's hope that our state's educators are not on the chopping block again!

drxtreme said on November 19, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Revenue falling like a lead brick and the law makers are still holding onto their pay raises, and we're still going to build FREAKIN SEATTLE a Multi-Billion dollar tunnel!!!!! I can't hardly feed my family AND pay the medical costs now, How muck more pain are you going to let Governor Spendoire nad her co-hortsSteal From YOU!?!?!?!?!?!?!

drxtreme said on November 19, 2009 at 11:06 AM

Oh and if there are spelling errors, blame that on the fact that food on the table takes precedent over glasses so I can see. Get a Clue Olympia! You constituents are not going to have Christmas this year due to your failings -- at least this is one family that will have to settle for a fake tree with a few lights and maybe a roasted chicken dinner!!!! D@MN YOU OLYMPIA! D@MN YOU!!!!!

blankingout said on November 19, 2009 at 11:12 AM

What, and I thought business was improving and taxes from improved business would certainly keep the government from going broke... Here is where to save money, I've seen many WSP troopers on the road, too many and makes me wonder where all that money came from when times were good. One WSP trooper was dangerously near an offramp with no lights on radaring people... then later about 6 of them sat in Starbucks for an hour... giving them the boot could be a first step.

pknifelake said on November 19, 2009 at 11:40 AM

I can't believe the State is out of money. It seems the people in Olympia can shell out money for an anouther expensive study to show the voters in King county how much they need the past mayor's plan for replacing the earthquake faulty highway. I'd like to know how much it cost for the five minute film. Maybe all it's going to take for these folks to wake up, is to watch The Boeing Co., fleeing this tax laden state for one in the east.

pknifelake said on November 19, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Oh, and by the way, as far as the person complaining about the WSP troopers. We don't have enough of them yet. I would like to see more of them out there. The service's they provide far outweigh the small amount of revenue they take back to the state.

skydiver said on November 19, 2009 at 12:09 PM

Fire Gov Chris Gregoire and the Democratic legislators! Vote in Republicans to cut the budget to the bone giving taxpayers a brake!! Even if Washington State implemented an all new 8% State Income Tax and raised to ultra high property tax levels, Gov Gregoire & her Democratic legislators would just embark on an all new social program spending spree painting us into a corner just like California. Washington, you get what you vote for just like California! “What we’ve got here is "failure to communicate". This must be the way you want it, well you get it." Washington state lost another $760 million in revenue pushing the state's budget deficit past $2 billion through mid-2011. WASHINGTON TAXPAYERS WAKE UP. ITS YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY NOT THE STATES! VOTE OUT THE TAX & SPEND IDIOTS! WHEN YOU GET OUT OF BED AND WORK FOR THAY MONEY, IT IS YOURS. YOU DON'T NEED CHRIS GREGOIRE AND A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR TO SPEND IT FOR YOU.

skydiver said on November 19, 2009 at 12:10 PM

Fire Gov Chris Gregoire and the Democratic legislators! Vote in Republicans to cut the budget to the bone giving taxpayers a brake!! Even if Washington State implemented an all new 8% State Income Tax and raised to ultra high property tax levels, Gov Gregoire & her Democratic legislators would just embark on an all new social program spending spree painting us into a corner just like California. Washington, you get what you vote for just like California! “What we’ve got here is "failure to communicate". This must be the way you want it, well you get it." Washington state lost another $760 million in revenue pushing the state's budget deficit past $2 billion through mid-2011. WASHINGTON TAXPAYERS WAKE UP. ITS YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY NOT THE STATES! VOTE OUT THE TAX & SPEND IDIOTS! WHEN YOU GET OUT OF BED AND WORK FOR THAY MONEY, IT IS YOURS. YOU DON'T NEED CHRIS GREGOIRE AND A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR TO SPEND IT FOR YOU.

jeepfreak said on November 19, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I just wonder how much the idiots in Olympia think we can pay on taxes. I also wonder how in wages the King county govenor would be willing to give up. There are way too many overpaid top level people in state government. iT time to cut the real fat from government. The people that run our state need to get a wake up call.

hoalinone said on November 19, 2009 at 12:17 PM

the governor is willing to talk taxes? jeez, how much more can we be taxed? aren't we already one of the most taxed states? oh, sorry, i see, she will probably impose an income tax next upon us, ramp up the local sales tax, and maybe invent some other means of revinue. maybe track how we breath and tax that too. perhaps she ought to do well to revisit the massive number of state pensions and how corruption may be a factor of us quickly approching our breaking point, or is that the job of legislature, attorney general or an oversight committee regarding fraud, waste and abuse?

ladyhawk said on November 19, 2009 at 12:55 PM

I can see revenue's dropping, heck, look around at all the cars, outdated tags and way too many of them. Not just by a month or so, I see several that are outdated by a yr or 2. These aren't clunker type vehicles either. It's time to make the penalty stiffer if you fail to renew your car tags. Down here in SW WA there's the problem of OR plates by WA residents. We are taxed way too much, it's time to fire the whole lock stock and barrel. No Tunnels, No new Bridge, NO new toys Olympia, it's time to cut up the credit card and live within your means.

tacwilster said on November 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM

Wow all good points, lets hope the gov stops the tunnel being built and any other unnecessary projects until the state has the funds do the work. I didn't vote for her but if I remember correctly she said no TAX INCREASES, I don't think it matters if their demorcrat or republican they do as they please with no regard to what the people of the state want!

anonymoususer said on November 19, 2009 at 6:39 PM

It's okay - they can still afford the idiotic tunnel so obviously they won't even miss this amount.

factoid said on November 19, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Guess 1033 was a good idea after all. I bet if the Governor had told the voters of her intention to raise taxes, 1033 would have passed. I am afraid State taxing and spending will not be put in check until we face the same hardships that California is facing now. The tax and spend politicians never seem to realize the effects of their irresponsible behavior until it is too late.