(The Center Square) – The King County Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted its 2025 budget, totaling $10.2 billion as a $150 million budget deficit looms. King County Executive Dow Constantine’s proposed budget general fund totaled $1.3 billion. Since Constantine’s proposal was first introduced, only $2.65 million and 13.5 full-time equivalent positions have been added to the general fund. The net increase in the general fund is attributed to the addition of 10 full-time positions added
(The Center Square) – The Spokane Valley City Council approved its 2025 budget on Tuesday, with nearly $150 million in expenditures outpacing revenues by roughly $1.1 million. The Valley’s elected officials gave the final OK after convening eight times since June to discuss the budget. The financial roadmap includes approximately 40% more spending than initially approved last year for the 2024 budget, with roughly a third slated for capital projects. According to a Request for
(The Center Square) – A general income tax in Washington state appears to be off the table for now, even as voters retained the state’s capital gains tax by failing to pass Initiative 2109 on Nov. 5 that would have repealed it. Passed by the 2021 state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee, Senate Bill 5096 created a 7% tax on any gain in excess of $250,000 – now $262,000 as the
(The Center Square) – Seattle Public Schools may not go through with a proposed plan to close four schools despite looming budget challenges. The school district is facing a structural deficit of $90 million to $100 million in the upcoming school year. Late last month, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones presented his preliminary recommendation for school closures next year. Four schools were set for closure: North Beach Elementary, Sacajawea Elementary, Stevens Elementary and Sanislo
