Inslee predicts budget agreement by end of Monday.

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee said legislators are could reach an agreement on the 2013-15 operating budget by the end of the day.

"The current state of negotiations gives me confidence that agreement is imminent," Inslee told reporters at a 2:30 p.m. press conference. "I'm more confident than I was at 9 o'clock this morning."

Legislative leaders have come up with a "significant change", which, Inslee said "I won't be able to share with you."

But those changes have created a way the state can meet its mandate to improve public education and preserve the safety net, he said.

Inslee spoke slightly more than an hour after state agencies began sending temporary layoff notices to some employees who would be told not to show up for work next Monday if the Legislature doesn't pass and Inslee sign the 2013-15 operating budget. About 26,000 workers, out of the 59,000 or so in state employ, would be subject to layoff because the budget gives the state the legal authority to spend money on programs and salaries.

The Legislature was unable to agree on a budget during its regular 105-day session or the 30-day special session that followed. It is now on Day 13 of its second special session. In recent days, some legislative leaders have made predictions about a deal being reached that proved overly optimistic and Inslee was asked why the public should think this was any different.

"This is the first time I have said there has been very substantial progress in negotiations," he replied 

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