S-4599.2  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8039

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State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Morton and Stevens

Read first time 03/04/2002.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Requesting across-the-board budget cuts.

    TO THE HONORABLE GARY LOCKE, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that the state of Washington is in its first recession in twenty years; and

    WHEREAS, The state's revenue forecast has declined seven quarters in a row dating back to September 2000, and the state's budget situation has changed 1.6 billion dollars for the worse since passage of the current budget; and

    WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes the real risk that revenues may drop further and the state's caseload costs may rise, leaving the state in a worse fiscal situation than currently forecasted; and

    WHEREAS, The governor has the power under RCW 43.88.110 to order across-the-board reductions if the governor projects a cash deficit in a particular fund; and

    WHEREAS, The Office of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council currently projects the state's general fund to be in substantial deficit, and the State Treasurer has stated the general fund could be in a cash deficit of 2 billion dollars by November; and

    WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that time is of the essence and that every dollar saved today alleviates the situation as we move forward in adopting a revised budget;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the governor enact across-the-board cuts immediately, affecting personnel of all branches of government.  The legislature further requests the governor adopt a "pay-as-you-go" plan where, if at any time in the future, actual monthly revenues fall short of expenditures, the governor will enact an across-the-board cut sufficient to cover the shortfall.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Gary Locke, Governor of the State of Washington.

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