Washington’s Projected Revenue Up

Projected revenue for the state of Washington has increased by about $288 million through the middle of 2019.

Numbers released by the Office of Financial Management show the state's revenue collection will be up, partly because the state's economy performed better than expected in June.

Total revenue generated for the state's general fund budget for 2017-2019 is predicted to be about $44 billion.

In June lawmakers approved a two year, $43.7 billion state operating budget. It spends $1.8 billion on K-12 public schools over the next two years. That investment is part of a $7.3 billion hike over four years designed to satisfy a state Supreme Court ruling that the state had not adequately funded basic education.

The budget also adds $618 million for public employee collective bargaining and pay and $102 million in mental health spending.