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Governor says he will propose a budget to guide the incoming administration; stresses housing and job growth
Summary
The governor said he will propose a budget within legal constraints to provide a starting point for the incoming governor, highlighted job creation and the need for more housing and zoning changes, and estimated about 1 million people have moved to Washington during his tenure.
Asked how he will work with the incoming governor during the transition, the governor said he will propose a budget as legally required and will share any insights he has, but that the incoming governor is "his own man" and will make independent decisions. "I will be proposing a budget, which hopefully will give him and legislators an idea moving forward," the governor said.
The governor addressed concerns that people moving to Washington for jobs and services could worsen housing shortages. He said the state has absorbed about 1,000,000 new residents during his years in office and credited job creation for attracting talent. He said state efforts have secured roughly $1 billion in new investment recently, but that more housing construction and zoning reforms are needed to meet demand.
On the budget, the governor said much depends on the final outcome of ballot initiatives and other revenue changes; he cautioned that there are existing holes to fill and that the administration has not yet finalized a detailed transition budget to hand off.
