Two Initiatives May Deepen Budget Hole

Credit to Chris Mulick of the Tri-Cities Herald for bringing to light the effects Initiatives 985 and 1029 could have on the state's $2.7 billion budget hole. Both initiatives apparently gathered the required number of signatures for the fall ballot. If both should pass, the budget problems worsen, with the deficit expected to exceed $3 billion. Here's how Mulick reports it.

Preliminary estimates from the Department of Revenue indicate that professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman’s traffic congestion measure – Initiative 985 –would cost the state about $290 million during the next two-year budget cycle and the rest of the current one.

And the campaign for Initiative 1029, a home-care worker training measure backed by the powerful Service Employees International Union, believes its measure would cost at least $23 million during that time. That number’s based on a nonpartisan analysis of similar measures before the Legislature this year.

Tim Eyman was quick out of the blocks this morning with an email arguing that I-985 would be good for the state's economy.

Nothing slows down our economy more than traffic congestion.  Nothing would boost our economy more than reducing traffic congestion.  State Auditor Brian Sonntag's performance audit report on transportation confirms that implementing his recommendations will result in a $3 billion boost to our state's economy.    

I-985 will boost our state's economy both by the implementation of its policies and by illustrating the public's support for making reducing traffic congestion the top transportation priority.

Stopping short of claiming that their initiative will be a boon to the economy, SEIU argues that, well, it's about more than the money. From Mulick's story:

Worries about its costs don’t stand up to its benefits, campaign manager Jeff Parsons said.

“How can we not afford to take care of our seniors?” he asked. “They need to have the best care we as citizens of the state of Washington can afford to give them.”

It's early days yet. And more analyses of the initiatives will be available before the election. It is safe to say, however, that it is about the money. (cross posted at WashACE.com)