By now you’ve probably heard that lawmakers massively increased state spending when adopting the 2022 supplemental budget while ignoring calls for broad-based tax relief. Some will say that huge spending increase was necessary due to population and inflation increases. Thanks to data provided by LEAP, however, we can see the ongoing spending increases adopted by lawmakers have far exceeded the state’s population growth. Here are details on inflation-adjusted per-capita state spending since 1970 reflecting the recently adopted budget:

For example, inflation-adjusted per-capita state spending in 2016 was $2,289. That spending number is now projected to be $3,244 in 2023 after the adoption of the 2022 supplemental budget. When adding total spending, that number has grown even faster. Total inflation-adjusted per-capita spending in 2016 was $4,165 and is now projected to be $5,439 in 2023.

No matter how you measure Washington’s spending increases, it has been substantial and accelerated in recent years far beyond inflation and population growth.  

Additional Information
LEAP data on inflation-adjusted per-capita state spending
Majority of Democratic trifecta states pursuing broad tax relief
Washington Research Council: Under operating budget compromise, 2021–23 appropriations would be 24.3% higher than 2019–21 spending