As the state’s revenue forecast predicted that the budget deficit would grow more than an additional $200 million, the Coalition of Washington Business Organizations (COWBO) called on state legislators to live within available revenues. COWBO members employ more than a million people across the state.

“This forecast confirms that our economy is dangerously fragile and not recovering as rapidly or as strong as we hoped.” said Don Brunell, President of the Association of Washington Business.

“Families are struggling to make ends meet, they can’t afford to pay higher taxes,” noted Brunell. “And the state has already hit Washington employers with $400 million in higher taxes and fees this year, forcing more layoffs and cutbacks. We realize it’s a difficult situation for lawmakers, but families and employers are living within their means, and government must find a way to do the same.”

“We’ve lost more than 68,000 jobs over the last couple of years. The $400 million employers are paying in higher taxes and fees could have been used to save employee health coverage or put more than 10,000 people back to work,” said Brunell.

For example, Lori Swanson, co-owner of Thompson Roofing and Gutter in Tacoma, has already been forced to lay off 12 of her 75 workers. Now, she faces an increase of almost $215,000 in taxes, insurance, and health care costs for 2003 — equal to the wages of nine or ten roofing workers.

COWBO urged that, rather than raise taxes, legislators should follow Governor Locke’s “Priorities of Government” budget strategy that sets priorities and focuses on providing critical government services.

“Legislators need to ask themselves the same questions Gov. Locke considered,” suggested Brunell. “How much money do we have, what must we do well to serve the citizens of Washington, and how can we best spend our limited resources to achieve our core results? The Governor is holding to those principles, the Legislature should do the same.”.