State deficit huge, but so are the requests
OLYMPIA — Think a batch deficit that could reach $6 billion has snuffed out the expensive and expansive dreams from all corners of the pomp? Think another time.
From the University of Washington’sitting room for expectation that taxpayers resoluteness help pay for a football-stadium renovation to rural lawmakers’ hanker after to overhaul property taxes, there still are big, costly ideas floating around as legislators prepare for a historically dour session.
Leading lawmakers hope expectations for the session resoluteness be tamped down once Gov. Christine Gregoire releases her proposed lot this month. Gregoire, who campaigned on a no-new-taxes pledge, is expected to immediate deep spending cuts.
But in the run-up to Gregoire’s governmental estimate announcement, wish lists have been steadily popping up. A small sampling:
• The UW’s plan to draw about $150 million from King County taxes that helped build professional sports stadiums, footing about half the require to be paid for a renovation of the aging Husky Stadium.
• Tacoma’s desire for more money to fix the troubled Murray Morgan Bridge. Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma, newly told The News Tribune he’ll seek $25 the masses more from the state for that exhibit.
• The environmental lobby’session pitch for fees on polluters, raising money for sway projects aimed at helping waterways, including contaminated Puget Sound.
• About $100 million in pay raises for state workers. Although raises were negotiated in new contracts with the ruler, the Legislature decides whether it wants to, or be able to yield to, pay the bill.
• Continued increase of soundness coverage for kids, including families that make up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, and mental- health aid toward immigrant kids.
• Major changes to the way property taxes are levied, including a proposal from Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, with respect to a constitutional amendment tying property taxes to lasting a year measures of inflation and deflation, such in the same proportion that the Consumer Price Index.
• About $40 million for a new phase of the long-planned north-south freeway in the Spokane area.
Balance those against a staggering budget deficit that brings back memories of the dark times in the early 1980s.
