North Central Washington loses $2 Billion in federal taxes
🚨 North Central Washington (NCW) is paying a BIG price as part of Washington’s TOP DONOR STATE status!
🚨Washington ranks 3rd nationally in net federal contributions — we send WAY more in taxes than we get back in spending. Latest USAFacts data shows a net loss of about $7,139 per person every year.
For North Central Washington (Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Grant counties & surrounding areas, home to roughly 280,000–290,000 people in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Chelan, Leavenworth, Okanogan, and the valleys), that means an estimated about $2 BILLION leaves our local economy annually — money that could stay here supporting our orchards, farms, tourism, hydropower, Lake Chelan, wine country, infrastructure, schools, and small businesses!
That's $2 BILLION not recirculating in OUR community — instead, it's subsidizing other states while we face drought risks, ag challenges, wildfire threats, housing needs, and rural budget strains.
Small Businesses, Farms & Tourism Economy Feel It the Most
NCW's backbone — family orchards (apples, cherries, pears!), wineries, agritourism spots, outdoor recreation businesses, local shops, contractors, data centers, and tourism operators — get hit hardest:
Higher local taxes & fees to cover the federal shortfall: More reliance on sales, property, and other taxes squeezes small farms, wineries, and businesses with thin margins, already battling rising costs, weather extremes, and seasonal work.
Fewer federal grants & relief programs: Donor states like ours get less per capita for USDA support, SBA loans, drought/disaster aid (critical for crops & wildfires!), rural development grants, tourism funding, or infrastructure (e.g., irrigation, ports, broadband) compared to "recipient" states.
Ripple effects on jobs & spending: Less federal investment means fewer contracts, wages, and support for key sectors — leading to tougher times for restaurants, retail, farm stands, suppliers, and the whole ag/tourism supply chain in our sunny but challenging region.
Extra pressure on rural & ag needs: Shortfalls hit irrigation/water projects, farmland preservation, wildfire mitigation, rural health, and tourism infrastructure hard, affecting families, workers, and the multi-billion ag economy that feeds the nation.
Our fertile valleys, world-class apples/wine, stunning lakes/mountains, and hardworking residents generate huge value for the state and country, but we're acting like the nation's ATM while our own challenges (farm viability, tourism recovery, small business survival) go underfunded. Frustrating for a region that's one of Washington's top producers!
Want more facts, details, and ways to push for change? Check out Repatriate Washington PAC — a local group educating voters and fighting to end our donor state status:
👉 https://www.repatriatewa.org/
They nail it: Washington sends billions more than we receive — time to demand fairness for ALL parts of the state, including North Central Washington!
What do you think, NCW folks? Time for more federal equity, or state-level solutions to support our farms, tourism, and small businesses? Comment below! 💬 #NorthCentralWA #NCW #Wenatchee #Chelan #Okanogan #GrantCounty #WashingtonState #DonorState #AgEconomy #Tourism #RepatriateWA