The supplemental 2025-27 operating budget proposed by Senate Democrats in Washington has drawn criticism from Republican leaders, who argue that the plan increases state spending to unsustainable levels and sets priorities they consider misplaced. The proposal, which is scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, would raise total state spending above $80 billion for the first time, representing an 11.3% increase over the previous biennium.
According to Republican budget leaders, the new budget allocates only 42.2% of its funds to K-12 education, marking the lowest proportion in over twelve years. Funding for higher education would also decline to 7.6%, a record low. The plan includes an additional $114 million in tax increases.
Senator Chris Gildon of Puyallup acknowledged two aspects of the budget he views as positive: a reform to the Working Connections Child Care subsidy program that could save approximately $800 million, and an initial effort to address increasing costs from lawsuits against state agencies. However, Gildon noted that these measures do not fully address ongoing concerns about tort liability.
In his statement, Gildon said: “This budget is a house of cards. It balances the books by draining nearly half of our Rainy Day Fund, shifting capital dollars into operating expenses, and pulling money from parks. That’s not fiscal responsibility — it’s short-term patchwork that leaves taxpayers exposed.”
He continued: “This increases spending growth for the budget cycle to 11.3% and new policy costs to $1.7 billion — and has overall spending growing at more than twice the pace of family budgets across our state. The majority keeps talking about affordability, yet nothing in this plan meaningfully reduces the cost of living for hardworking Washingtonians.
“It says a lot that the largest cost increase in this proposal is driven not by education or health care, but by the harm to Washington residents caused by agency mismanagement. Had the executive branch been more serious about the state’s liability before now, that cost might have been avoided.
“I don’t doubt that crafting this budget was difficult, but this is the second shortfall in two years — both caused by overspending. Doubling down on the same mistake won’t fix it. Olympia can’t keep lurching from one deficit to the next while families and employers foot the bill. It’s simply not sustainable.”
Senator Nikki Torres of Pasco raised concerns about reductions affecting schools and vulnerable students: “This budget is more proof that Olympia has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. While it’s encouraging to see some attention given to reforms in programs that are failing children, I’m deeply concerned that the largest policy savings are taken from K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. That’s the wrong direction for Washington’s future workforce.”
Torres added: “What makes this even more concerning is where those reductions fall. Proposed cuts to Local Effort Assistance and Transition to Kindergarten hit some of our most vulnerable students the hardest. LEA exists to help property-poor school districts, including districts like mine, ensure their students have opportunities comparable to wealthier areas. Cutting those funds shifts the burden onto rural and higher-poverty communities that already face the greatest challenges. The same is true for Transition to Kindergarten, which helps our youngest learners build a strong academic foundation before they ever enter a classroom full time. Pulling back on these investments would only deepen inequities in our education system at the very moment we should be correcting them.”
She further stated: “And that’s what makes this so frustrating. We’re told the state needs more revenue, yet this proposal grows government to more than $80 billion — up roughly 110% over the past decade — while median household income has increased about half that rate. That’s not sustainable.
“When people ask Republicans, ‘Where would you make different choices?’ I point to the no-new-taxes budget we proposed in 2025 — one that funded core services without adding billions in new taxes and without taking money away from classrooms. Had that approach been adopted, I question whether we would be facing another shortfall today. It’s time to reset priorities and restore discipline to the budget process.”
The hearing on Senate Bill 5998 will begin at 4 p.m.
