Schools, housing, salaries score big in Senate Dems $70B budget
OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats on Thursday released a blueprint for spending $70 billion in the state’s next two-year budget with large boosts in funding for special education, housing, behavioral health services and combating climate change.
It’s also got smaller sums to assist abortion providers, study police chases and bolster the availability of treatment services for those with substance use disorder.
“(It) is ambitious but it’s responsible. It rises to the many challenges people are facing in the state,” said Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and lead budget writer.
Overall, the proposal spends roughly $5.1 billion more than the current budget expiring in June and leaves $3.8 billion in total reserves. It contains no new general taxes or fees but it does rely on money from the capital gains tax, which faces a legal challenge in the state Supreme Court.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/schools-housing-salaries-score-big-in-senate-dems-70b-budget/