RCW 43.88.055
Legislative balanced budget requirement.
(1) The legislature must adopt a four-year balanced budget as follows:
(a) Beginning in the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the legislature shall enact a balanced omnibus operating appropriations bill that leaves, in total, a positive ending fund balance in the general fund and related funds.
(b) Beginning in the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the projected maintenance level of the omnibus appropriations bill enacted by the legislature shall not exceed the available fiscal resources for the next ensuing fiscal biennium.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Available fiscal resources" means the beginning general fund and related fund balances and any fiscal resources estimated for the general fund and related funds, adjusted for enacted legislation, and with forecasted revenues adjusted to the greater of (i) the official general fund and related funds revenue forecast for the ensuing biennium, or (ii) the official general fund and related funds forecast for the second fiscal year of the current fiscal biennium, increased by 4.5 percent for each fiscal year of the ensuing biennium;
(b) "Projected maintenance level" means estimated appropriations necessary to maintain the continuing costs of program and service levels either funded in that appropriations bill or mandated by other state or federal law, and the amount of any general fund moneys projected to be transferred to the budget stabilization account pursuant to Article VII, section 12 of the state Constitution;
(c) "Related funds," as used in this section, means the Washington opportunity pathways account, the workforce education investment account, the fair start for kids account, and the education legacy trust account.
(3) Subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section does not apply to an appropriations bill that makes net reductions in general fund and related funds appropriations and is enacted between July 1st and February 15th of any fiscal year.
(4) Subsection (1)(b) of this section does not apply in a fiscal biennium in which money is appropriated from the budget stabilization account pursuant to Article VII, section 12(d)(ii) of the state Constitution.
[ 2021 c 199 § 103; 2020 c 218 § 2; 2012 1st sp.s. c 8 § 1.]
NOTES:
Short title—Findings—Intent—Conflict with federal requirements—2021 c 199: See notes following RCW 43.216.770.
Effective date—2020 c 218: See note following RCW 43.88.030.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 43 - State Government—Executive
Chapter 43.88 - State Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting System.
43.88.025 - "Director" defined.
43.88.027 - Annual financial report.
43.88.031 - Capital appropriation bill—Estimated general fund debt service costs.
43.88.032 - Maintenance costs, operating budget—Debt-financed pass-through money, budget document.
43.88.033 - State expenditure limit—Budget document to reflect.
43.88.055 - Legislative balanced budget requirement.
43.88.058 - Maintenance level costs—Services for children.
43.88.060 - Legislative review of budget document and budget bill or bills—Time for submission.
43.88.080 - Adoption of budget.
43.88.096 - Budget detail—Designated state agencies—Federal receipts reporting requirements.
43.88.100 - Executive hearings.
43.88.120 - Revenue estimates.
43.88.122 - Transportation agency revenue forecasts—Variances.
43.88.125 - Study of transportation-related funds or accounts—Coordination of activities.
43.88.130 - When contracts and expenditures prohibited.
43.88.140 - Lapsing of appropriations.
43.88.145 - Capital projects—Transfer of excess appropriation authority.
43.88.160 - Fiscal management—Powers and duties of officers and agencies.
43.88.170 - Refunds of erroneous or excessive payments.
43.88.175 - Credit reporting agencies—State agency use.
43.88.180 - When appropriations required or not required.
43.88.205 - Federal funds and programs—Participating agencies to give notice—Progress reports.
43.88.210 - Transfer of certain powers and duties.
43.88.220 - Federal law controls in case of conflict—Rules.
43.88.230 - Legislative agencies and committees deemed part of legislative branch.
43.88.240 - Exemption of Washington state commodity commissions.
43.88.250 - Emergency expenditures.
43.88.260 - Deficiencies prohibited—Exceptions.
43.88.265 - Construction accounts—Exception to certain accounting requirements.
43.88.270 - Penalty for violations.
43.88.550 - Forest firefighting expenses—Transfers to Clarke-McNary fund.
43.88.560 - Information technology projects—Funding policies and standards.
43.88.583 - Public inspection of state collective bargaining agreements—Website—Contents.
43.88.585 - Fee inventory—State expenditure information website—Work group.