State Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) has been appointed to the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

The council provides the governor and Legislature with comprehensive state revenue and economic forecasts that cover everything from national economic activities to state trends in job growth and income levels. This information forms the foundation of the state’s operating budget.

Hunter, of Bellevue’s 48th District, is chair of the House Finance Committee.

“Painting an accurate picture of our state’s economy is the first and most important step in building a budget that allows us to fulfill our promises for things such as quality basic education and public safety,” Hunter says. “If we don’t have a fairly accurate sense of how much revenue is coming in and where it’s coming from, legislators simply can’t do their job of building a responsible state budget.”

Hunter will begin serving on the council immediately. The council consists of two members appointed by the governor and four members from the Legislature. They publish quarterly reports and information about their work is available at www.erfc.wa.gov.