Realistic budgeting. Restraint and thorough review of new taxes. Reduce regulation and permitting and licensing timelines. 

Those are among the key points of a new report issued by two statewide business organizations on how Washington can strengthen its economy. 

The Economic Future Solutions Summit Report was the result of input from more than 150 business leaders, policymakers and economic development experts who attended an Association of Washington Business and Washington Roundtable event this past summer, according to a release.   

The report acknowledges that the state has taken steps to address some of the recommendations; Gov. Bob Ferguson has directed agencies to speed up permitting and created a new Economic Development Council to advise on how to strengthen the state’s economy. 

But tax and regulatory predictability remain badly needed in the state after two straight legislative sessions when taxes were raised by state lawmakers. 

“Washington has long had an economy that is the envy of the world, but we’re losing ground to other states,” said AWB President Kris Johnson in a statement. “We hope policymakers take these recommendations seriously and act to strengthen Washington’s competitiveness.” 

Go to: www.awb.org/reports-data/economic-future-solutions-summit-report.