With the economy booming and tax revenues rolling in, the Washington State Legislature spent your money on everything from more and bigger state programs to more bureaucrats to run those programs. It claimed that it had done all this and kept nearly a billion dollars in a "reserve". According to the Seattle Times (emphasis added):

Democratic lawmakers congratulated themselves for being frugal when they passed a state budget this month that reserves $935 million to deal with future expenses. What they didn’t say is they’ve essentially spent that money already.

State estimates show lawmakers created programs, tax breaks and improvements in state services this year that are expected to cost about $940 million over the next two fiscal years.

That basically blows away the money set aside by the Legislature — some of it earmarked for other things, such as pensions and schools — and leaves a projected $500 million shortfall next session.

The moron Democrat majority leader said that her party passed "perhaps the most responsible budget I’ve ever taken part in." Like George Bush, who can’t use the word "war" when talking about Iraq, she can’t use the word "spend" when she talks about the budget; instead, she talks about "investing". This year’s budget, she said, "was a great investment in our future and a great optimistic approach, instead of ‘Oh my, it may all be awful, let’s hunker down and save.’"

Well, the trouble is, as the Times notes, that the Governor’s office is already projecting a $500 million shortfall when the Legislature convenes next year. Of course, the Governor says that programs will therefore have to be cut back. The Democrats were not going to spend invest all your tax money this year either. So, we’ll believe the Governor after the teachers’ and public employees’ unions tell her she better not cut back any programs if she wants their political support.

The long and short of it is that, next year, after all the recent tax hikes and surpise increases in revenue, the State will claim that it "needs" more of your money and that you will be "heartless" or "cruel" if you are not ready and willing to hand it over.

Bet on it.