Supplemental budget may provide some relief

Budget writers say the state has about $1.4 billion more in tax revenue than expected, which has lobbyists hoping they can persuade lawmakers to spend money on new programs next year.

The state works on a two-year budget cycle. Earlier this year the Legislature passed a $26 billion operating budget for 2005-07. However, lawmakers will take up a supplemental budget when they meet in January that covers unforeseen costs, such as health-care caseload increases. That also creates an opportunity to spend money on other things.

Gov. Christine Gregoire and leaders in the House and Senate say they want to put aside as much of the money as possible for future expenses they know will be waiting when they take up the next two-year budget in 2007.

However, one expenditure most legislative leaders agree on is putting money into the state pension system to help take care of a multibillion-dollar hole in funding.

Gregoire is traveling the state this week to talk about her budget priorities and plans to release her full supplemental-budget proposal Dec. 20.

— Andrew Garber