BRACE YOURSELVES. It will be some time before the budget crisis facing the state improves.
Indeed, the picture likely will get worse before it gets better.
That was the blunt message from Washington State Sen. Craig Pridemore when he spoke to Council 2 members during the recent Legislative Weekend in Olympia.
“Sales tax revenue has fallen, but even when it returns to a more sustained level it will be a while before we see an improvement,” he said. “Our services are going to see setbacks for as far as we can see. There is no end in sight.”
Pridemore said discussions are regularly held on how to handle the state budget to get through the crisis, but few discussions focus on local government. In this regard, measures that propose providing flexibility on how funds are spent will help to channel money where it is most needed.
It is only when discussing the public sector that people seem to think you do better by rewarding your employees by paying them less or by replacing well-paid workers with lower-paid workers, Pridemore added.
“You don’t seem to get that treatment in the private sector.”
But, Pridemore said, there is hope.
“We have seen these times before, but we have always seen the better times come back and I am convinced we will see them now.
“Keep your chin up and work your best even though few people might seem to appreciate it.
“A lot of citizens will not notice the vital services you perform until they are gone.”
