WFSE will continue to advocate for updates to the public works bid limits, which have largely been unchanged since 2009.  

The current thresholds no longer reflect the realities of today's construction and maintenance costs. 

As a result, routine maintenance and repair projects that state employees previously completed in-house are increasingly being forced into lengthy contracting and bidding processes that multiply costs and lower work quality. 

The price of paint has doubled since the limits were established, while plumbing fixtures and piping have increased by roughly 80 percent. Those increases often push otherwise routine projects beyond current bid thresholds, even when state employees already have the skills, experience, and equipment necessary to complete the work themselves. 

Washington's public-sector trades workers maintain the buildings, utilities, infrastructure, and systems that keep colleges, universities, parks, correctional facilities, and other public services operating. These highly skilled electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, mechanics, painters, and other trades professionals perform critical maintenance and repair work in communities across the state. 

WFSE members have repeatedly testified that performing work in-house saves taxpayers money. Workers have also raised concerns about accountability when work is outsourced. Higher education institutions are frequently asked to correct or finish contractor work after projects have already been completed. In some cases, contractors do not return to address outstanding issues, leaving public employees to finish the work while institutions absorb additional costs and delays. Taxpayers ultimately pay twice: once for the contractor and again for the public employees needed to complete or repair the work.  

It's time for our state to make smart use of the skilled workforce taxpayers have already invested in. Updating outdated bid limits allows public employees to perform more of the maintenance and repair work they are already trained to do, saves public dollars, reduces unnecessary contracting, preserves institutional knowledge, and helps ensure public infrastructure is maintained by the workers who know it best. 

Find all legislative priorities, links to lobby, and more on our 2027 legislative session landing page.