It’s always gratifying when a major news organization cuts through the political spin and informs readers of what is really happening with government budgets.  Amid loud claims of a supposed state budget deficit, a Seattle Times editorial on Sunday correctly notes that “...tax collections for public services are up.”

Only in the public sector is a slowdown in the rise of expected tax revenue called a “shortfall.”  For most of us a rise in household income of say, 8%, instead of an expected 10%, is still an increase – and welcome good news.  In government circles that same revenue increase would be labeled a 2% cut and treated as cause for panic.

That just happened on November 8th, when Governor Inslee’s Director of Financial Management announced the state is facing a $10 to $12 billion funding “deficit” over the next four years. Refreshingly, the savvy editors at The Seattle Times aren’t buying it.