Washington lawmakers from both parties are united in their opposition to proposed budget cuts to wildfire suppression funding. Gov. Bob Ferguson suggested a 6% across-the-board reduction to address a multi-billion dollar shortfall, but lawmakers argue that cutting funding for firefighting would have catastrophic consequences.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson proposed a 6% budget cut to address multi-billion dollar shortfalls, but lawmakers from both parties strongly opposed any reduction in wildfire suppression funding. Republican Tom Dent from Moses Lake emphasized the critical need for these funds, stating that cutting them would lead to catastrophic wildfires and ultimately increase firefighting costs.
He argued that the state needs to prioritize public safety and maintain adequate resources to combat the growing threat of wildfires. The issue highlights the difficult choices facing the legislature following the governor's announcement. Ferguson's spokesperson, Brionna Aho, explained that the across-the-board reduction targets empower agency leaders to make tough decisions, streamline their operations, and focus on the most effective programs. Ferguson is urging agency leaders to prioritize services that directly benefit Washington residents, maximize federal funding, and minimize cuts to administration and overhead.Former Governor Jay Inslee had proposed a $50 million increase in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget for wildfire suppression in his final budget proposal. Inslee's plan also included tax increases to address the projected revenue shortfall. Ferguson's approach focuses on budget reductions across the board, exempting public safety issues. DNR Director of Government Affairs Pat Sullivan argued that wildfire suppression falls under public safety and that reducing funding would have dire consequences. He pointed to the devastating wildfires in Oregon and the current situation in Los Angeles as examples of the potential impact. Washington's State Chief Forester George Geissler highlighted the positive return on increased investment in wildfire suppression, noting that Washington experienced 300,000 acres burned in 2024 compared to Oregon's 2 million acres. He also emphasized the insurance implications of inadequate wildfire suppression efforts
WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION BUDGET CUTS WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE GOVERNOR BOB FERGUSON TOM DENT SHARON SHEWMAKE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES CLIMATE CHANGE PUBLIC SAFETY
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