Washington Legislature Hikes Taxes On Thousands Of Businesses To Maintain Public Services...

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The agreement hammered out by House and Senate budget writers does not tap the state's emergency reserves or furlough state employees , as prior proposals this year suggested doing. It pays for new collective bargaining agreements for state workers and provides $100 million for law enforcement hiring sought by the governor.

Overall, it spends $77.8 billion in the two-year budget cycle that begins July 1, roughly 9% higher than the current biennium. When all the adding and subtracting is done, there's $7.4 billion in new spending, officials said.

"We've worked diligently to write a budget that addresses the fiscal challenges that we have, and continues to fund the core services that the people of Washington expect us to fund, and they depend on," said Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

"There are many reductions throughout the budget that are harmful, are going to be hard for people, and for agencies to implement," she continued. "We're all eyes wide open about that."