No budget deal could mean unemployment for state employees

Alex Cnossen

Alex Cnossen Jun 22, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>No budget deal could mean unemployment for state employees</h1>
                <h2><p>Unless Washington lawmakers reach a budget agreement by June 30, thousands of state employees may find themselves temporarily unemployed. The current budget expires at midnight that day, after which more than 26,000 state employees would be affected, according to state officials. Though Washington state has never experienced a government</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/alex-cnossen-crosscut-com/">Alex Cnossen</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Unless Washington lawmakers reach a budget agreement by June 30, thousands of state employees may find themselves temporarily unemployed. The current budget expires at midnight that day, after which more than 26,000 state employees would be affected, according to state officials. Though Washington state has never experienced a government shutdown, <a href="http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Without-budget-state-to-send-out-layoff-notices-next-week-307651791.html?ref=avalancheghost.one">KOMO</a> reports that the Legislature has deliberated until the last second before. Two years ago, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a budget on June 30.</p><p>Officials from the governor’s budget office have released a contingency plan on what state offices may have to do in the event of a government shutdown. Gov. Inslee’s budget plan is posted on Olympia’s Office of Financial Management’s <a href="http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget15/highlights/default.asp?ref=avalancheghost.one">website</a>. Crosscut's John Stang has a full <a href="http://crosscut.com/2015/06/clock-ticking-on-partial-state-shutdown/?ref=avalancheghost.one">report here</a>.</p>
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Unless Washington lawmakers reach a budget agreement by June 30, thousands of state employees may find themselves temporarily unemployed. The current budget expires at midnight that day, after which more than 26,000 state employees would be affected, according to state officials. Though Washington state has never experienced a government shutdown, KOMO reports that the Legislature has deliberated until the last second before. Two years ago, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a budget on June 30.

Officials from the governor’s budget office have released a contingency plan on what state offices may have to do in the event of a government shutdown. Gov. Inslee’s budget plan is posted on Olympia’s Office of Financial Management’s website. Crosscut's John Stang has a full report here.

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By Alex Cnossen

Alex Cnossen is a Northwest native and has worked for several local publications, including KOMO, KIRO and KING-TV. He grew up in Portland and loves to run and write. Follow him on Twitter @CnossenAle