The Brief
- Washington state faces a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall, with Gov. Bob Ferguson ruling out quick revenue options like sales or property tax increases.
- Representative Shaun Scott proposes a 5% payroll tax on salaries over $125,000 to generate $3 billion annually for housing, education, and healthcare, but Ferguson argues it won’t address the immediate budget gap.
- Republican Representative Chris Corry suggests considering budget cuts, such as rolling back recent raises for state workers, as a potential solution.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington state faces a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall, and Gov. Bob Ferguson says the path to closing the gap will require tough and immediate decisions.
“It’s not like we’re at a point where I can say, ‘Hey, we have now closed this multi-billion-dollar shortfall,’” Ferguson told FOX 13 News. “We are still very much in the ‘difficult decision’ mode,” he added.
Representative Shaun Scott, a Democrat from the 43rd District, is proposing a plan he says will bring in an extra $3 billion annually. His proposal is a 5% payroll tax on salaries over $125,000 to fund housing, education, and healthcare.…