New state budget forecast offers $1B worth of good news for Washington leaders
A new forecast released Tuesday projects state revenues will reach $66.7 billion for the two-year budget cycle that began July 1, an increase of $663 million from what chief economist Steve Lerch predicted in June. He said the state also hauled in an additional $265 million in the last budget that was not in his June report. It came from tax collections that arrived after the forecast was prepared and before the fiscal year ended June 30, Lerch said. Added up, that’s $928 million more than when lawmakers adopted the current state spending plan in April. And if the trend continues, the amount will grow in November when the next revenue report is published. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Jerry Cornfield)
Washington post-secondary students struggle with food, housing insecurity, survey reveals
A recent survey found many post-secondary students are struggling to have their basic needs met. The WSAC conducted a basic needs survey to understand the prevalence of students facing food insecurity, housing insecurity, homelessness and other challenges during post-secondary school. Recently passed legislation helped fund grants that have been awarded this school year to post-secondary institutions in Washington to help students experiencing housing and food insecurity. Continue reading at KOMO (WA Student Achievement Council)
New study suggests looser WA drug laws do not mean more overdose deaths
As drug overdoses continue to claim lives and policymakers at all levels try to address the problem, new research examining Washington and Oregon suggests there isn’t a link between decriminalizing drug possession and a rise in fatal overdoses. The new research used statistical modeling to compare fatal overdose rates in each state in the year after the policy changes were put into place to what those rates might have looked like had those policies not been implemented. Continue reading at Seattle Times.
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