Wa. State Dept. of L & I proposes rate increase

The Dept. recently announced plans to increase Worker's Compensation premiums by 7.6 %-9.3% for 2010, citing rising costs. Public hearings will be held on this proposal during the fall. The rate increase will likely be imposed beginning Dec. 1, 2009. While the rate increase is coming at a time of severe economic distress for most businesses, it is far less than the double digit increase being discussed by the Dept. in late spring of this year.

Over the past 10 years L&I rates have increased a total of 53 percent.