Washington Governor Jay Inslee says a budget deal in Olympia is “imminent” – even as state workers start to receive layoff notices. At a news conference Monday afternoon, the Democrat reported significant breakthroughs in budget negotiations.
A shutdown of state government is now one week away. That’s why temporary layoff notices are going out to state employees. That’s a requirement of labor contracts. Governor Inslee says he feels “enormous frustration” there wasn’t a budget deal in time to avert the notices.
But he reports “very substantial” progress in negotiations on a state budget for the next two years. “This news gives me increasing confidence that we will have the resources to fulfill our obligations to fund our schools, protect the most vulnerable amongst us and avoid an unprecedented shutdown of state government.”
Inslee added that he still hopes the legislature also passes a separate transportation funding package. The Washington House and Senate have been stuck in a stalemate for weeks over the budget and other issues. They are now in the midst of a second 30-day overtime session