Washington State Budget And Policy Center

Our mission is to use research and analysis to make Washington a more just and prosperous state.

We advocate for elected leaders and decision makers to: ensure the state budget and tax code sustainably and equitably invest in the priorities that serve all Washingtonians; and advance social and economic policies that lift up families with low and moderate incomes, eliminate barriers to opportunity for people of color, and give all Washingtonians the opportunity to thrive.

In our work, we keep equity front and center, and take a big-picture view of our state budget within our Progress in Washington framework, which focuses on four areas – economic security; education and job readiness; healthy people and communities; and effective and accountable government.

We analyze how budget and policy decisions affect investments in the priorities that serve us all, and ensure that our analysis gets in the hands of decision makers and influencers; shift the public debate around issues related to taxes, the economy, and Washingtonians’ well-being through strategic communications with decision makers, key partners, the public, and the media; build strong, inclusive coalitions with local and statewide networks of community leaders and grassroots advocates who promote policies that would make our state a better place; and help to engage the community and allies with our policy priorities through ongoing outreach.

We have a committed team whose expertise on fiscal and social policy have bolstered our reputation as an innovative, credible partner.

Our board of directors is comprised of 15 members with expertise in communications, policy analysis, fundraising, strategic planning, and organizational development. Several board members were part of the founding board that built the organization in 2005/6.

We have built strong relationships with a range of community partners, including foundations, labor unions, legislators, and advocacy organizations. In part through our coalition work, we have built strong relationships and trust with stakeholder groups, including advocates for children and families; labor unions; and advocates for education, health care, and the environment. These relationships help us play an active role as a coalition convener and a trusted partner helping to keep the progressive community united around bigger-picture, longer-term efforts to strengthen our state economy.

A few recent B&PC highlights include:

-In 2017, after we advocated for greater higher education access through WorkFirst for people with low incomes, the legislature increased the amount of post-secondary education available from 12 to 24 months, so parents can finish a degree.

-In 2017, after we showed why granting tax breaks for big manufacturing corporations without basic transparency or accountability provisions was a bad deal for our state, Governor Inslee vetoed a proposed new tax break for manufacturers and protected funding for schools. This action informed our ongoing effort with All In for Washington to flip Washington state’s upside-down tax code – the most regressive in the nation.

As a state, we are still slipping backward on many of the indicators for progress identified in our Progress Index. We still have work to do to change our upside-down tax system and ensure there is adequate state revenue to fund state services like health care and education.