'Absolutely good news': WA financial outlook brightens as budget talks heat up [View all]

Washington state budget writers finally got some rosy news Monday, as they prepare to release their spending plans.

Revenue collections are predicted to increase $827 million in the current two-year budget compared to expectations from November, according to a forecast from the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. This 1.1% increase reflects early proceeds from the slate of tax increases the Legislature approved last year.

Monday’s forecast means projected collections for the current biennium are up $438 million from the numbers lawmakers used to craft the state budget last spring. This puts total revenue expectations at $75.3 billion.

Sen. June Robinson, the Democrats’ chief Senate budget writer, called it “absolutely good news.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/16/absolutely-good-news-wa-financial-outlook-brightens-as-budget-talks-heat-up/