Gov. Jay Inslee has signed Washington state’s new 2023-25 budgets, advancing affordable housing, reducing homelessness, building behavioral health capacity, supporting educators, protecting salmon, training more police, and implementing world-leading climate policy.
The operating and capital budgets follow many of the priorities put forth by the governor last December, investing more than $1 billion to “go big” on housing and homelessness.
The $400 million invested in the state’s housing trust fund will build more than 13,200 housing units over the next six years. Land acquisition programs will help lay foundations for more housing. Emergency housing programs are intended to shelter thousands of people experiencing homelessness.
The budgets also contained the largest increase in K-12 education funding since the McCleary decision. The additional funds invested this year help schools pay teachers, offer student supports, and conduct special education.
The governor signed the 2023-25 transportation budget, but warned that lawmakers had not been realistic in some areas. The Legislature underfunded maintenance and likely overpromised on some projects.
