On the last day of the legislative session, Washington legislators passed their 2021-2023 operating budget, appropriating $10.6 billion in COVID-19 federal stimulus funds and $59 billion in state revenue.
The budget will direct funds to a wide range of state programs. Written and negotiated by majority Democrats, it also includes revenue from a capital gains tax that passed the Legislature Sunday afternoon.
The federal stimulus money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, and the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, which is available for spending in this 2021-23 biennial budget and the 2023-25 biennial budget. Schools will receive the largest share of federal money – about $1.7 billion in total – for reopening, addressing learning loss, and other costs.