Goldy Goes Wonky to Explain Why WA Has A Budget Problem

Goldy (SLOG):

Washington is the most sales tax reliant state in the nation, with the general sales tax accounting for 45 percent of state revenue, over 58 percent when you throw in taxes on gasoline, alcohol, and tobacco. Yet as the Washington State Budget & Policy Center chart above shows, taxable retail sales is steadily shrinking as a percentage of personal income, and thus as a percentage of the state economy as a whole.

That means state tax revenue is steadily shrinking as a percentage of the state economy, and with it, our ability to provide public services at constant levels. MORE...