‘Where do you cut?’: Gee and Ursula weigh possible layoffs after Ferguson rules out new taxes for deficit
Dec 6, 2025, 5:00 AM
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced he will release a proposal later this month that will only use spending cuts to close the state’s multi-billion dollar budget shortfall, rather than introducing any new taxes.
Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin, co-hosts of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, went back and forth on the state’s limited options for addressing the budget shortfall, ultimately agreeing that avoiding tax increases would likely mean layoffs.
“If you are not going to go and get taxes, OK, then you’re getting ready to lay off people in the state, period,” Gee said.
“Our state has grown spending at a faster rate than almost any state in the West, and the legislature just passed a budget that included billions of dollars in new taxes. So, someone’s going to say, ‘Where do you cut?’ and I actually have an answer,” Ursula responded. “Is there any administrative bloat? Agencies all across the state have grown. Do you need all those layers of management?”
Ursula highlighted several programs she believes Washington could scale back as the billion-dollar budget shortfall looms over the state.
“How about doing a performance audit on state programs? Are they all working? Can you cut those that are underperforming? Unfortunately, when it comes to business, some people may have to be cut,” she said. “There’s also programs that need to be cut. Do we need all the task forces, study groups, and pilot programs that were created during the good times? These are tough decisions that have to be made. People are having to make cuts. When you keep asking for more taxes, people are going to have to make tough decisions, too.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
