As costs have grown at increasingly unaffordable rates over the past four years, Washingtonians are more and more focused on their incomes and expenses as they make their household budget decisions.¹ But the fastest growth rate of all has been the growth of state spending.

State tax and spending growth:

• The state is collecting more tax revenue than it ever has.²
• In the past decade, state tax collections have grown by 94%.³
• State spending in that time has grown by 114%.⁴

Household income, household impacts:

• Over the past decade, median household income has grown by 58%.⁵
• During this time, state spending per capita has grown from $6,000 to $9,000.⁶

Growth of basic living costs in Washington:

• Washington has the 3^rd highest cost of living in the nation.⁷
• Since 2021:
  • Consumer prices in Washington have grown to the 5^th most of any state in the country.⁸
  • Gas prices have grown 18%⁹ and are among the highest in the nation.¹⁰
  • Childcare costs have grown 21 percent.¹¹ 
  • Grocery prices have grown 20 percent¹³ and are the 4^th highest in the nation.¹⁴
  • Housing costs have grown 8%¹⁵ and are the 5^th highest in the nation¹⁶.
  • State spending has increased nearly 40%.¹⁷

As the state brings in money at a faster rate than Washington households, while spending more than it has coming in and at a faster rate than other rising costs, it makes sense to ask: How does the state budget impact your budget?