Washington state revenue forecast exceeding projections

OLYMPIA – Washington state government has been raising more revenue than initially expected as the economy continues to improve, officials said Wednesday.

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council projected that tax collections over the next two years will be more than $200 million greater than expected when state lawmakers adjourned at the end of June. Total revenue during that time period is now forecast to be nearly $33 billion – 7.6 percent more than the previous two-year budget period.

Leading budget negotiators from both parties said the revenue boost is relatively small. Democratic Rep. Ross Hunter said it doesn’t create any major opportunities, especially since there are problems that need to be resolved and ongoing litigation that could impact the budget.

State projections still aren’t accounting for money that could be raised from looming introduction of taxed marijuana sales. Hunter said lawmakers have no idea how much money that sector could raise for the state, and he doesn’t want to include it in budget projections until the state can actually count the dollars.

The extra money in Wednesday’s forecast could help lawmakers as they search for ways to put more dollars into the public education system. Still, forecasters say there are a number of economic risks, including congressional gridlock, rising mortgage rates and possible economic turmoil in Europe.