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Report Card for Washington's Future

Key data points on the health and trends of Washington State.

TAXES & BUSINESS CLIMATE

Business Tax Rating

State Tax Ratings

2014

6

2025

45

- 39

decrease in tax rating.

Source:

The Tax Foundation

State Operating Budget

Wa. State Budget (billions)

2013-2015

$33.6 B

2025-27

$77.8 B

48.6%

increase in state budget.*

*After adjusting for population and inflation.

Source:

Office of Financial Management

Business Failure Rate

Rate of Failure Over 10 Years

Nat. Avg.

65.1%

Wash. State

67.8%

8th

highest failure rate in U.S.

Source:

BLS/Lending Tree

Mark Harmsworth

Mark Harmsworth

Director, Small Business Center

EMAIL

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Cost of Reducing CO2 emissions:

State vs Private markets:

141 times

more expensive than private market efforts.

Source:

Wash. Climate Action

Climate Commitment Act Funded Projects

Projects that produce no emission reductions:

77%

of CCA funded projects provide no emission reductions.

Source:

Wash. Climate Action

Gasoline Prices

Increase in Gas Prices

2012

$3.84

2024

$4.63

21%

higher prices than U.S. average

Source:

U.S. Energy Information Admin.

Electrical Vehicle Mandate

% State Owned EV Pass. Vehicles

Goal

40%

Actual

14%

65%

below EV passenger vehicle target.

Source:

CO2 emissions

Million Metric Tonnes of CO2 Equivalents

2012

79.3

2022

87.8

10.7%

increase in statewide GHG emissions.

Source:

EV Registrations

Governor's EV Goals

Goal

35%

Actual

22%

37%

below EV registration goal.

Source:

Todd Myers

Todd Myers

Vice President for Research

EMAIL

AGRICULTURE

Labor Costs

Farm Labor Costs

2017

$2.2b

2022*

$2.7b

22%

increase in farm labor costs.

Source:

US Census of Agriculture

Total Farms

No. of Farms

2012

37,249

2022

32,076

5,173

fewer farms.

Source:

Farm Expenses

Farm Expenses

2017

$8.5m

2022

$11.0m

38%

increase in farming costs.

Source:

Cultivated Acreage

No. of Acres

2012

14.7m

2022

13.8m

892.7k

cultivated acres lost.

Source:

Pam Lewison

Director, Center for Agriculture

EMAIL

TRANSPORTATION

WA. State Bridge Condition

Bridges in Poor Condition

2020

164

2023

229

65

more 'poor' condition bridges.

Source:

Public-transit Boardings

Change in Public-transit Boardings

2012

220.7 M

2023

164.9 M

24%

decrease in boardings.

Source:

WSF Passenger Trips

Annual WSF Passenger Trips

2012

22 M

2023

17 M

23%

decline.

Source:

Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled

Daily Vehicle Miles

2012

85.5 M

2023

96.3 M

10.8 M

increase in daily mileage.

Source:

Bus Cost per Passenger

Cost per Rider

2012

$4.74

2023

$12.17

157%

increase in cost per rider.

Source:

WSF Service Hours

Annual Service Hours

2012

126,980

2023

105,456

17%

decline in service hours.

Source:

Transit Agency Revenue

Funding Increase After Inflation

2012

$2.1 B

2023

$5.1 B

83%

increase in revenue.

Source:

Bus Farebox Recovery

% Farebox Recovery

2012

25%

2023

7%

72%

decline.

Source:

WSF Cost-per-Service-Hour

Cost per Service Hour

2012

$1,810

2023

$2,679

11%

increase, after inflation.

Source:

Charles Prestrud

Director, Coles Center for Transportation

EMAIL

EDUCATION

English Performance 2023-24

50%

of students not on track for college-level learning.

Source:

Math Performance 2023-24

60%

of students not on track for college-level learning.

Source:

Science Performance 2023-24

57%

of students not on track for college-level learning.

Source:

Education Spending per Student

SY2012-13

$13,775

SY2023-24*

$19,163

39%

increase in per student spending.

* Adjusted for inflation

Source:

OSPI/WSFI (LEAP)

WA 8th Grade NAEP Reading Rank

2013 -2024 Change in State Ranking

2013

8th

2024

17th

Washington has fallen

9

places in national ranking since 2013.

-

Source:

US ED, Nation's Report Card

WA 4th Grade NAEP Reading Rank

2013 -2024 Change in State Ranking

2013

15th

2024

18th

Washington has fallen

3

places in national ranking since 2013.

-

Source:

US ED, Nation's Report Card

WA 8th Grade NAEP Math Proficiency Rank

2013 -2024 Change in State Ranking

2013

7th

2024

24th

Washington has fallen

17

places in national ranking since 2013.

-

Source:

US ED, Nation's Report Card

WA 4th Grade NAEP Math Rank

2013 -2024 Change in State Ranking

2013

10th

2024

27th

Washington has fallen

17

places in national ranking since 2013.

-

Source:

US ED, Nation's Report Card

Vicki Murray PhD

Paul W. Locke Research Fellow for Education

EMAIL

mount rainier black and white

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