pudge's Journal: New Year, New Surplus, Same Old Story

Last year the state of Washington had a multi-billion-dollar surplus. They spent it all, projecting the next budget would be in the red. This year, another surplus, and again, they are planning to spend it all.

Note that they say they don't want to spend it all. The surplus is $1.9 billion, and $606 million of it is "unspent" with $262 million going to a "rainy-day fund." The problem is that of the money that is spent, almost all of it is going into new budget line items, or increases to existing line items, so we are already (again) at a deficit for the next budget, and that "unspent" $606 million is, in fact, already spent on that next budget (unless they plan on cutting those new expenditures in the next budget ... ha!).

But that's OK. In two years, when taxes are going up despite multi-billion-dollar surpluses, and with the Democrats in control of both branches (governor and both houses of the legislature), it will be a lot easier for Dino Rossi to be (re-?)elected governor.

Poor financial planning

[Talinom]

Let's see. There is a surplus of money two years in a row with a gigantic project on the horizon (replacing the viaduct). Rather than tuck that away so that taxpayers can get it replaced with very little financial burden the state decides to blow it on other projects.

I wonder if they exhibit the same sort of fiscal responsibility at home.

Re:

[multimed]

Rather than tuck that away so that taxpayers can get it replaced with very little financial burden the state decides to blow it on other projects.

Just to clarify, you mean very little financial burden in the future for that particular project. Because undoubtedly, the taxpayers paid a significant financial burden in the first place for the state to have collected that much money.

I wonder if they exhibit the same sort of fiscal responsibility at home.

That you actually said that tells me that the

Re:

[pudge]

It seems like very few politicians on either side of the isle have any qualms about being completely irresponsible with taxpayers money for that exact reason - it's not their money and it's always easy to spend some one else's money.

Not in this case, no. The Republicans in Washington (we're talking the state here, not the nation's capital) have had limited power in recent years, but they've attempted to be very responsible with taxpayer money. Dino Rossi won the first two counts for governor two years ago because of his success at balancing the budget in the state Senate, and the only Puget Sound county council that was under Republican control (until last year) had kept tax rates from increasing at all for a few years in a row, and