Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director
(360) 956-3482

Locke's 2003-05 budget

OLYMPIA, WA—Governor Gary Locke will announce the details of his no-new-taxes budget tomorrow morning, leaving legislators to decide whether to approve or modify his spending plan. The governor has hinted that planned cuts will be painful, but with a $2-$3 billion deficit looming lawmakers must remember the lessons of history and resist the temptation to raise taxes in an economy that simply cannot support a heavier tax burden.

In the early 1990s, many states were facing similar budget problems. The governors who took strong and decisive action—not only refusing to raise taxes, but actually cutting them and seizing opportunities to institute much-needed reforms—were rewarded with job growth and economic stability, as well as re-election. Conversely, many of the states that attempted to balance their budgets by increasing taxes did so at the expense of jobs and business, thus making the problem worse.

Using an innovative new model that focuses on core governing functions, Governor Locke has written a budget balanced within existing revenues. To aid in this process, he asked all state agencies to submit a list of their activities prioritized into three categories: high, medium and low. The governor's final budget was based in part on these self-identified priorities (excluding the agencies in charge of higher education and K-12, who refused to comply with the request).

As legislators review the budget to decide which activities and programs should be streamlined or eliminated, they should take a close look at the priorities identified by agencies. Some raise serious questions. Consider the Department of Transportation's priorities:

High priority: Roadside/landscape maintenance, rest area operation, headquarters management.
Low priority: Audits, highway construction mobility improvements, transportation planning.

Do these priorities reflect the core purpose of government and the will of Washington citizens?

Once a program is identified as a core function of government, legislators should consider how it can best be delivered (should it be contracted out?) and which level of government can do so most effectively.

It remains to be seen if Governor Locke and his colleagues in the legislature will make the tough decisions necessary to refocus state budgeting on core functions. It will not happen overnight, but it is possible right now to balance the budget without raising taxes. If they do not, it is EFF's prediction that voters will mount an initiative campaign to pass the most punitive tax and spending limits the state has yet seen.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Governor Locke's 2003-05 proposed spending plan
Governor Locke's "Priorities of Government" (POG)
State Auditor Brian Sonntag's call for performance audits
Agency priorities (PDF)
Agency activity summaries (PDF)

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org