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State budget proposals could slash Washington home‑visiting funding, officials and providers say
Summary
State and provider presenters at a Department of Children, Youth, and Families advisory meeting warned that draft legislative budgets and an underspend sweep could reduce state funding for home‑visiting programs by millions of dollars, potentially forcing cuts to contracted slots and services.
Department of Children, Youth, and Families officials and home‑visiting providers told the Home Visiting Advisory Committee (HVAC) that proposed state budget actions could significantly reduce funding for Washington’s home‑visiting programs and force service reductions.
At a virtual HVAC meeting, Erica Hallock, director of policy and advocacy at Start Early Washington, summarized the fiscal picture facing the legislature: “Based on the last revenue forecast that was done in March, we are facing about a $16,000,000,000 budget gap,” she said, and added that the state’s biennial budget is “about just under $80,000,000,000.” Hallock said the Senate and House had both proposed revenue packages; together they estimated about $12,000,000,000 in new revenue, leaving roughly $4,000,000,000 more to close from cuts and other actions.
Why it matters
The committee heard that that gap, plus the Senate’s use of spending‑pattern “sweeps” and proposed reductions aimed at Fair Start for Kids Act allocations, could translate into millions in cuts to home visiting. Erica Hallock said the Senate’s…
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