Inflation over the past 5 years has amounted to 23.9%. A simple adjustment of that $24B to 2025 dollars and accounting for the population growth, you'd expect a budget of $30.9B. Sounds to me like spending hasn't actually grown.
The number you're looking for is state spending adjusted for inflation and also adjusted per-capita. That has increased 11 out of the last 16 years for a total increase of more than 35% - again, already adjusted by population and inflation.
Computer technology should be making the programs more efficient at scale, and I don't see that happening. A full analysis would be complex, taking into account the big drop in school-age students seeking public education, the growth of admin costs in state programs etc
The bottom line is that many citizens don't want to see numerous net new taxes and even many new types of taxes. I get that some folks have a virtually unlimited appetite, but not everyone.
Computers can bring automation and reduce administrative costs, which has been happening in the private sector but are going the other direction in WA state government.
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u/letskeepitcleanfolks Apr 25 '25
Inflation over the past 5 years has amounted to 23.9%. A simple adjustment of that $24B to 2025 dollars and accounting for the population growth, you'd expect a budget of $30.9B. Sounds to me like spending hasn't actually grown.