Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington State lawmakers are bracing for an even larger budget shortfall when they convene in January.

That means severe budget cuts and even tax increases are potentially on the table. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Governor Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, won re-election last week on a pledge not to raise taxes to balance the state budget. But majority Democrats in the Washington State legislature did not make the same promise.

And some say all options should be considered – including tax increases.

State Representative Hans Dunshee is the number two Democrat on the House Budget Committee. He says it’s likely any tax proposal would go to a vote of the people.

Hans Dunshee: “We really do govern at the consent of the governed and if they’re not open to options like using the rainy day fund or to targeted tax increases then there’s no point in going forward with them.”

Dunshee expects the state budget deficit will balloon to as much as $4.6 billion after next week’s revenue forecast.

He says that means deep spending cuts will be necessary – not just nips and tucks.