A glimpse of the Washington State budget process
The state budget process takes place each year, all year long. In odd-numbered years, the biennial (two-year) budget is created. A supplemental budget is created every year to address budget shortfalls and emergent issues.
- Spring: The governor directs all state agencies to put together budget packages, with guidelines for cuts or increases.
- Summer: State agencies put budget packages together over the summer. They deliver their requests to the governor by fall.
- Fall: The governor puts together proposals for transportation, capital and operating budgets. These are made public in December.
- Winter: The House and Senate each put together budget proposals of their own in response to the governor's proposals. This takes place in House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means (budget committees).
Next, the House and Senate each vote to approve their own budget proposals. A compromise between the budgets has to be reached and passed by both bodies before the budget goes to the governor for signature. The biennial budget takes effect July 1st of every odd-numbered year. A supplemental budget takes effect as soon as the governor signs it.
How You Can Help Prepare for the 2010 Session
The more work that we do during the next several months, the better off we’ll be as we advocate for our needs during the 2010 legislative session. Learn more about the work you can do.
MS Day of Activism
Thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to participate during this legislative session. Whether you made calls, wrote letters or e-mails or made it to Olympia your efforts made a big difference. By all accounts, our Day of Activism was a huge success! Learn more and view pictures from the day.