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Washington's budget shortfall is down to $500 million as the economy shows signs of stabilizing and people rely less on state services, according to new numbers released Thursday.
The state's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its revised outlooks as lawmakers prepared to roll out budget proposals. The numbers show $96 million in extra revenue, which comes in addition to about $340 million in newly expected savings from less reliance on state services. The Legislature had been looking at a roughly $1 billion shortfall.