Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate
OLYMPIA… Sen. Keith Goehner and his Senate Republican colleagues unveiled their fiscally responsible solution to the state’s budget shortfall: the “$ave Washington” budget proposal that funds the priorities shared by Washingtonians without relying on spending cuts or tax increases.
“This is an honest, reasonable approach that proves no one needs to choose between making life in Washington less affordable or slashing essential services,” said Goehner, R-Dryden. “Olympia already has enough taxpayer dollars to maintain the services our residents care about most. This confirms it.”
The $ave Washington budget, totaling $75.6 billion, aligns spending with revenue growth, ensuring Washingtonians are not subjected to unnecessary tax hikes. State revenues are expected to increase by 7.6% (an additional $5 billion), and the $ave Washington budget limits spending growth to 5%, maintaining essential services while living within the state’s means.
“State government is facing a $6.6 billion shortfall to maintain current services, according to non-partisan legislative budget staff. Our Democratic colleagues say the shortfall is far larger, and I understand how that can be used as an excuse to push for tax increases,” said Goehner. “But anyone who believes new taxes are inevitable will have that belief challenged by this proposal.
“If the Democrats come out with a budget that contains new taxes, it’s because they want new taxes, not because our state needs them. This is proof.”
“This budget does not rely on a single fee increase. The majority party has proposed fee increases for state parks, hunting, and fishing this year, despite knowing it will likely decrease demand for all of those. We reject that approach.”
The $ave Washington budget prioritizes education funding ensuring K-12 receives a larger share of the budget for the first time in six years.
The plan also includes public safety investments, such as funding Senate Bill 5060, backed by Governor Ferguson, which would provide grants to help communities hire more law-enforcement officers. It also would implement reforms at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to reduce administrative costs and prioritize front-line workers.
The plan exempts public safety, social services, and K-12 education from across-the-board reductions, ensuring that vital services remain intact. However, it demands efficiency in other areas.
“This is the right thing to do—especially if the alternatives are higher taxes or devastating cuts,” said Goehner. “We’ve shown the way to keep state government running without more taxes and cuts, if the majority party shares that priority.”
Click here for more information on the $ave Washington plan.
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