Guest Blog: Stimulus Strings Will Hobble Budget Options in 2010

Amber Gunn / October 19, 2009

File this away in the “I told you so” budget commentary section. Last April, legislators hobbled together nearly $5 billion in one-time funds to balance the budget–including about $3 billion in federal stimulus funds ($4.1 billion total if you count the 2007-09 supplemental). In their eagerness to gobble up as many dollars as the feds would offer, legislators (and Governor Gregoire) forgot two of the most fundamental life lessons in a world of scarce resources.

First, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Second, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The stimulus money is no exception. The stimulus strings that were practically invisible from the budget debate during the 2009 legislative session are finally making a public appearance as legislators begin discussing next year’s expected billion dollar-plus budget hole. (more…)