WA Negotiators Reach Budget Agreement, Won’t Say if New Taxes Involved

At least Washington state probably won't go into July facing a shutdown, like last year. But will new taxes be part of the budget compromise reached in Olympia? Plan still has to be approved by legislators.

Officials with Gov. Jay Inslee's office announced Friday afternoon negotiators have reached a tenative deal on the next budget, to cover the state through the next four years.

The last public information indicated the GOP controlled Senate was offering a $37.7 billion package, the Democrat Controlled house wanted $38.4 billion.

Inslee's budget director David Schumacher did not specifically say what the dollar amount was, but it's presumed to be in between the two figures. Specific details will need to be worked out over the next week on hundreds of details.

Now, negotiators must present the proposal to legislators to see if it's acceptable, so we are not out of the woods yet.

Schumacher would not say if new taxes are part of the deal.