Caseload Forecast Increases Cost Estimate by $96 Million

Today's release from the state caseload forecast council  takes the projected state budget deficit up, from $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion. At least, that's the number we'll be using for a couple of days, until the state revenue forecast is released Friday.

In the Seattle Times, Jim Brunner notes that the change is relatively minor in the overall fiscal picture. 

...this isn't really a game changer for the Legislature. The extra $96 million is relatively paltry in the grand scheme of state's $32 billion general-fund budget.

Most of the increase is in K-12 education costs, reflecting that the teacher mix tilts toward older (costlier) teachers as younger staff have been the first cut as schools trim employment.