Superintendent Randy Dorn has issued an important warning about the consequences of lawmakers’ dithering on the state budget. One key statement in his letter should motivate all citizens to look at their own school districts’ financial...Read more here
Budget & Taxes Blog Posts
Budget & Taxes Blog Posts
A budget is where priorities meet realities. At least that's how it should work.
The problem with government is that it gets to write the rules--about tax rates, fees, and even what counts as a balanced budget. That makes it easy for politicians to pretend everything is a priority and every moment a crisis demanding greater sacrifice from taxpayers.
The Freedom Foundation is a tireless voice for priority-based budgeting in state and local government. We work with responsible policymakers to craft sound, balanced budgets. We expose irresponsibility and gimmicks. We helped launch performance audits in Washington State as well as the model for health savings accounts eventually adopted into federal law.
We work with elected officials and citizens to make government budget writing transparent and to focus it on real priorities, cutting spending on programs that are unnecessary, counterproductive or unconstitutional.
The principles are pretty simple: taxes should be as low, simple, and fair as possible and budgets should be balanced.
June 13, 2013
Inslee, vetoes, incompetence, and corruption - the CRC zombie never dies
Almost every cliché related to a centrally-planned, government managed boondoggle exists with the Columbia River Crossing project, yet Governor Inslee vetos all restraints on the insanity associated with this project. We are forced to watch a governor struggle to remember who he represents,...Read more here
June 13, 2013
Freedom Foundation Welcomes Summer Interns
The Freedom Foundation is excited to welcome our newest group of 2013 summer interns. As part of our Young Leaders Internship Program, these bright college students will work alongside our policy experts to conduct valuable research, craft policy recommendations, and educate state legislators and...Read more here
June 12, 2013
Pension Costs Could Sink Cities
The long-term obligations of many governments are about to get worse--at least on paper. As Fox Business reports, both credit rating agencies and the organization that defines proper government accounting practices are trying to better assess governments'...Read more here
June 12, 2013
Inslee’s D.C. Flashback
With the possibility of a state government shutdown looming, Congressman-turned-Governor Jay Inslee yesterday lambasted his political opponents in the state legislature. Here are three reasons why is message is...Read more here
June 12, 2013
Second Special Session: Repeating the past or ignoring it?
Creating a budget that balances revenue and spending is no easy task for anyone. It gets even more difficult at the state level where there is a multitude of spending possibilities and competing opinions about what should actually take priority. But is it so challenging that it requires not just...Read more here
June 11, 2013
Attention State Workers: you can also be a whistleblower
If you are a state worker who has witnessed corruption or other problems within the government that you think should be made public, you can be a whistleblower. The Freedom Foundation makes this process very easy for you.
June 07, 2013
Education Funding 2011-2012
Few people have the time to comb through all the sources and data related to the state's education funding. For any Washingtonian interested in education funding, we have provided a compilation of key education funding facts to make your search for information quick and easy.
May 30, 2013
Kent Schools Shortening School Days
On May 29, the Kent School Board considered a plan to add dozens of new partial school days to the calendar. This plan would trim students' classroom time in order to make more time for "teacher collaboration."
May 29, 2013
Must School Levies Pad Wages?
Spokane SD spent an average of $7,600 per teacher on wage enhancement. West Valley SD $3,200, both had about twenty applicants per elementary teacher vacancy.
