Gov. Gregoire�s statement on the state�s revenue forecast

For Immediate Release: February 16, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the state�s revenue forecast, which shows projected General Fund revenue for the 2011�13 biennium up by $96 million:

�Since the start of the national recession in late 2007, 27 of 32 forecasts spanning three biennia have been negative. When I put out my budget last November, the inaction in Congress, the European debt crisis and low consumer confidence all presented a negative financial picture. Today�s modest uptick in revenue, the first in this biennium, combined with last week�s caseload forecast has improved our financial outlook.

�This welcome news may allow the Legislature to find a solution to our budget in Olympia and with it I ask the Legislature to send me a budget that prioritizes our kids in early learning, K-12, and higher education. We�re not out of the woods yet and solving the budget problem remains a significant and daunting task. I will continue to work with the Legislature on a budget that gets us through these times and puts us on a sustainable economic path for the future.�