How about giving it back to the taxpayers?

I had high hopes for some fiscal restraint, but I guess it's politics as usual. I would have to agree with shoring up the state worker's retirement fund first. Take care of underfunded or unfunded items, but spend it all?! Show us that you aren't seduced by the word 'surplus', Mrs Gregoire....

$500 million to a rainy day fund for when the economy turns down (it always does) and lower tax rates for the balance. No new programs. New programs should only be justified during a period of a low economic performance, not when there is a budget surplus.

How about giving it to the underfunded educational program? Also, what ever happened to the funding of education in partial by the lottery system in our state?

Just because you have more (of OUR) money doesn't mean you have to spend it! How about giving back the approximately $312.71 to each person. Just think of the boost that would give to the economy.

How about reducing the taxes that "She aint my governor" put upon the people of the State!
One other great savings the State could make is, end the State liquor system! Yes, tax the liquor, but end the leased stores, the retirement, vacation and medical for all the emploees. We the people need our State to save our tax money and spend it wisely.

Public Transportation - necessary everywhere. We don't need lower taxes, we need to get out of our cars.

Schools! Education! This state is one of the lowest states in the nation providing funding to education. We have one of the best places to live and raise a family in beauty, we only lack support to our childrens education. So many of the schools are in disrepair, from cracked walls to broken floors to not having enough money for school books. It saddens me greatly to see such a resourchful state ignore the basic needs of schools. I used to be so proud of our schools, now I'm embarrassed. It is my hope and prayer that this need will be recognized and acted upon.

It shows that taxes are too high. They should lower taxes, cut the 'High' gas tax back!!! That would helps all the people.

"Taxation isn't about what you need." "You pitch for as much as you can get, and then figure out how to spend it." Quote taken from a segment of a late 1970's British sitcom: Yes, Prime Minister (Sir Humphrey to PM James Hacker).

Set up a rainy day fund? Show fiscal restraint? ......return it to taxpayers?

Now that is funny.....

I guess they really didn't need to raise that gas tax after all. Doom and gloom they said if it didn't get raised. Do what they did in Idaho, and lower a tax for a year. Is 2 billion dollars enough to build a monorail system in Seattle? or a bullet train from east to west? Give it back to the people, it is their money after all.

Give it back to the people before those fools spend it, and then, more importantly, figure out WHY they ended up with so much extra of OUR money in the first place. Try cutting the gas tax for one, the so called 'sin taxes' as someone said above about the Liquor stores - why are THOSE monkeys state employees? In California, it's like a 7-11, which is how it should be here - minimum wage and NO benefits. The money saved would surely offset the tax reduction!

no new programs. Hire more police
make more prisons - not more help for the inmates.
do them hard labor even if they move rocks from one side of prison yard to another. No amenities.

Having a surplus is another way to say the budget isn't balanced. Give back money to those who paid it and keep a tighter tolerance on the checkbook. Rainy day funds = slush funds.

This isn't a spend proposal (yet): do cost/benefit analysis of buried power lines vs $loss for business/infrastructure due to 5+ day multi county power outage every 5-10 years.

There has been many budget cuts for people with disabilities. I think it is "Highly Critical" the money that was taken away be restored for services and therapy to these individuals who's
lives depend on it!

URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AGREE WITH THE LAST STATEMENT. MY BROTHER WHO IS SEVERLY HANDICAPED RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THE DAY OF HIS THERAPY TELLING HIM NOT TO COME IN BECAUSE THE FUNDING HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY. NOW THERE IS AN EXTRA 2 BILLION DOLLARS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT? I THINK THIS IS A VERY STUPID QUESTION. IT SHOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO THE SERVICES THEY TOOK AWAY TO SAVE THE MONEY.

I am not saying that we should have no money in reserve, but we should build a reserve fund for emergency situations. That fund should be probably 10% of the budget. And any surplus should be held in the reserve fund. But $2 Billion [that's BILLION with a B] is an indication that something is wrong with our system of budgeting and taxation.

1. A large surplus indicates bad budget planning and sloppy management, which results in setting unnecessarily HIGH tax rates. Since taxes are NEVER reset this means that we are constantly being taxed more than we need.

2. Tax surplusses do not belong to the government, they belong to the people, and should result in reduced tax rates, and tax refunds to the Citizens who pay for everything.

It seems to me there's a major problem because it was just a month or so that you reported on Seattle school closures and were would the money come from for the Alaka Way Viaduct. I think a surplus of two billion should be able to cover the costs of keeping the schools opened at the very least. Let's not forget the costs of the storms we are having. Most people in this state live from pay check to pay check. Now we know why!

Being fiscally conservative means planning for the future. Making sure we can move around and keeping bright young people in state should be top priorities. Finishing our Light Rail and building a public four-year university in Snohomish County will do the most to secure a good future for Washington State.

Being fiscally conservative means planning for the future and making sure we can move around and keeping bright young people in state should be top priorities. Finishing our Light Rail and building a public four-year university in Snohomish County will do the most to secure a good future for Washington State.

I believe that the Washington Legislators should
give the money to programs that help the homeless and the veterans who served our country, as well as programs for domestic violence victims and programs that benefit our children. Those people get paid enough money to live comfortably. I think that people who have low income should get tax breaks, or they should abolish all taxes. We American people, get taxed way too much as it is.
Respectfully submitted by Mrs. Crystal Wilford
Long time NWCN Viewer

Washington is in crisis.
What about funding free or low cost alcohol and drug treatment centers with the surplus for those without insurance who are seeking help and who need financial assistance to aid their recovery.
Manage the problem now or suffer the consequences
of increased crime and violence from a lost generation later.

Wow I guess the west side of the state got what they wanted to be OVER TAXED. First Gregoire should be removed from office the votes where never in her favor. Take 400 million of the money and put it in a rainy day fund than give most of what left back to the east side of the state. Since 1 we all voted for Rossi and 2 all voted against the gas tax. Also this is a sure sign that the taxes in the state of Washington are way too HIGH! And all you that complain about Alcohol Taxes need to check in to AA. Raise that tax, make it harder to purchase Alcohol. Less Alcohol consumed=less funding needed for rehab!

I suggest that our "accidental governor" give it back to the taxpayers which she pilfered it from.

I would say give it back to the taxpayers before the fools find some dumbass venture to blow it on. I'm surprised the Sonics aren't trying to get it to fund their crybaby stadium. Maybe reduce some of the already insanely high taxes in this state, or fund schools, or perhaps use it to buy more votes and vote counters in the next election! She ain't my governor

I say make a list of all possible uses for the money, and have the people vote on what it should be used for. The money would then be distributed between the top issues voted for. (I know I could make a big impact on the homeless rate with just 5 million:) (ps, running for mayor of tent city:)

It seems like when we get a democrat for gaverner the only thing they can think of how much more can we tax the guy that provide the money for essential services; ie police, fire protection and social services. I guess the 2 billion excess was taken from those sevices so the can pay the teachers more so than can continue to do a lozy job of teaching our kids.

Okay, there's all of a sudden a huge surplus. Makes one wonder. Well, it's there so lets do something positive with it. I'd love for our schools to improve, by funding for the classroom and teachers on the lower end of the pay scale. I DON'T want one cent given to administration. The fat cats suck enough away from our children. Don't build fancy schools, build something practical that doesn't require millions of dollars---EDUCATE our youth.

How about making every politician live on Social Security instead of some golden pension. Maybe then they will figure out a way to make money more available to the people. It would be nice to see them making a choice of either buying food or prescription drugs. Go figure.

How about providing some relief to the families who were displaced for 1 week + because of the windstorm-related power outages last month. I'm $3K out of pocket because we had to stay in a hotel and eat out for nearly every meal with our 2 year old son and 9 week old daughter.

Place the total amount in a trust fund with the stipulation that the principal cannot be used except by a mandate from the voters.The interest/dividends could be used for worthwile purposes as requested by authorized organizations,civic causes,etc. that submit a request to a selected commitee made up of civic leaders and /or elected personnel.

Obviously, no one can disagree that the freeway system in King County is twenty years behind where it should be. Fascinating how people are willing to sit in that traffic.

Return $1Billion to the overtaxed in this state. My property taxes keep going up, but my income doesn't keep up. Stop the overtaxing & immediately lower this years property tax rate.

Next Half Billion - Fund better teacher's pay (their rates are embarrasingly low compared to industry) & set up a merit based performance system like industry does - - Retain your performers, Let go underperformers.

Last Half Billion - Support Seniors who do not have personal resources that need help. Social Security pays regardless of assets . . . how about helping the seniors who can't afford food and health plan copays.

GIVEIT TO THE PEOPLE LIKE ALASKA DOES WITH THE PERMANENT FUND....

You don't have to worry about it. Those dummies in Olympia will find a way to spend it then next year come and raise taxes because there is a short fall because of them! Ya think!!

Can some people deal with alcohol and other drugs better than others? WBR LeoP

Gee Governor, do you get the point? Reading many of the previous posts it is apparent that many people are angry with you. If there is a surplus, then someone in accounting should be fired. Makes you look bad. I like the idea of lowering the gas tax for 1 year by .05/gal.

The budget surplus should be used to shelter and provide for our homeless. "Tent city" is a disgraceful way to treat people.

Give me my money back! I paid it - if there's a surplus then give it back to me!

Put it into schools to upgrade them. Our schools are far down from the rest of the country. Lets EDUCATE OUR KIDS.

Will public schools EVER get enough (let's shut down the W.E.A.) give the "surplus" back to the TAXPAYERS.

I don't see why the government should give all the money back. We are surviving without it, meaning we never really needed it. The surplus should be used on programs and education, things that will better the people.