Here is the evolution of the 2012 supplemental budget:

Democrat proposals

  • *Governor Gregoire (11/21/11): Spending – $29.989 billion ($330 million delayed k-12 apportionment); Total reserves – $602 million
  • House (2/21): Spending – $30.661 billion ($330 million delayed k-12 apportionment); Total reserves – $504 million
  • House (2/25): Spending – $30.725 billion ($330 million delayed k-12 apportionment); Total reserves – $454 million
  • Senate (2/28): Spending – $30.814 billion ($330 million delayed k-12 apportionment); Total reserves – $369 million
  • House (3/8): Spending – $30.836 billion ($330 million delayed k-12 apportionment); Total reserves – $350 million
  • House (4/4) Spending – $31.102 billion; Total reserves – $336 million (includes $238 million accounting change)

GOP proposals

  • House (2/21): Spending – $30.565 billion; Total reserves – $625 million
  • Senate (3/3): Spending – $30.768 billion ($133 million skipped pension payment); Total reserves – $501 million
  • Senate (3/15): Spending – $30.713 billion ($143 million skipped pension payment); Total reserves – $437 million

Compromise budget

  • Enacted budget (4/11) Spending – $31.121 billion; Total reserves – $319 million (includes $238 million accounting change)

The final budget adopted is very close to what Rep. Hunter proposed on April 4. Here is a comparison of those proposals.

One trend that quickly jumps out: spending increases and savings decrease the closer the budgets come to an agreement. Here are additional details on our concerns about the small reserve level.

Judging just from the balance sheet it appears the grand bargain reached was the adoption of a Democrat budget in exchange for passage of Republican reforms. We’ll have additional details on the reform bills as we have time to review them.

*The financial factors changed between the time the Governor proposed her budget and the legislative versions (caseloads and revenue forecast).

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[Reprinted from the Washington Policy Center blog]