Puget Sound-based commerce organizations are strongly urging state lawmakers not to raise taxes on businesses to address a projected budget shortfall and instead find ways to live within their means.
Earlier this week, Gov. Bob Ferguson said the updated revenue forecast adds another billion to the projected operating budget shortfall over the next four years, bringing the total gap to $16 billion.
Washington Senate and House Democrats managed to pass respective $78.5 billion and $77.8 billion operating budgets for the next biennium. These officials have proposed new taxes that would generate between $13 billion and $17 billion for the state…