Key takeaways
- Washington state government spent $74.7 billion in fiscal 2024, the 14th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Department of Enterprise Services, and vendors register and find bids in WEBS.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028-29 budget proposal usually comes by Dec. 20.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 11 and is scheduled to adjourn April 26.
Washington government at a glance
| Fact | Washington |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $74.7 billion (14th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028-29 · proposal usually by Dec. 20 |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 11 to April 26 (106 days) |
| Central procurement office | Department of Enterprise Services |
| Bid and vendor portal | WEBS |
| State CIO | Bill Kehoe, State CIO and Director |
| Local governments | 1,890 total, including 1,275 special districts and 295 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 41 public power utilities and 18 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 14,441 (end of 2023) |
How Washington buys
- Central purchasing. The Department of Enterprise Services handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. WEBS is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Washington vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | Direct buy up to $40,000; up to $50,000 from Washington small or veteran-owned businesses |
| Informal quotes | None |
| Formal solicitation | Above the direct buy limits |
Source: RCW 39.26.125; DES-125-03 (September 1, 2025). Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Washington's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028-29.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released By Dec. 20. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 11 and is scheduled to adjourn April 26. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Bill Kehoe, State CIO and Director, leads the Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech). See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 1 executive order, 1 law and 5 agency policies on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Washington
The biggest Washington entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | City | 784,777 residents (2025) | 18 of 100 largest cities |
| King County | County | 2,344,939 residents (2025) | 13 of 100 largest counties |
| Pierce County | County | 946,288 residents (2025) | 60 of 100 largest counties |
| Snohomish County | County | 870,656 residents (2025) | 74 of 100 largest counties |
| Seattle | School district | 51,443 students (fall 2021) | 80 of 100 largest districts |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Public university | 56,997 students (fall 2024) | 13 of 40 largest |
| King County Department of Metro Transit | Transit agency | 78,886,800 trips (2023) | 11 of 50 largest |
| Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Auth. | Transit agency | 37,571,600 trips (2023) | 27 of 50 largest |
| Seattle-Tacoma International | Airport | 25,417,071 passengers boarded (2025) | 12 of 100 busiest |
| Spokane International | Airport | 2,106,307 passengers boarded (2025) | 73 of 100 busiest |
| Seattle Public Utilities | Water utility | 1,091,904 people served | 23 of 208 largest |
| Tacoma Water | Water utility | 448,771 people served | 72 of 208 largest |
| Seattle City Light | Public power utility | 512,498 electric customers (2024) | 9 of 50 largest |
| Snohomish County, Public Utility District No. 1 of WA | Public power utility | 382,062 electric customers (2024) | 13 of 50 largest |
| Seattle (WA) Police | Police department | 1,373 sworn officers (2016) | 32 of 50 largest |
| Harborview Medical Center | Public hospital system | — | — |
| Ports of Seattle and Tacoma | Port | More than 3.15 million Calendar 2025 TEUs (2025) | 7 of 16 largest |
| Washington State Health Care Authority | State agency | About $19.3B Per year; $38.7B for 2025-27 biennium (maintenance level) budget | 14 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 1,890 local governments. That includes 1,275 special districts and 295 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 41 public power utilities and 18 electric cooperatives serve 2,151,142 customers, 57% of the state. See Washington utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Washington buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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