Unless the Senate votes, $4.17 billion in construction projects won’t happen
The House of Representatives passed a state capital budget on a 92-1 vote. But unless the Republican-controlled Senate acts, Washington state won’t have a construction budget this year.
That state construction budget (House Bill 1075) funds $4.17 billion in construction projects around the state. Those projects are vital to our schools, universities, parks, environment and economy.
Here is what’s at stake:
- 75,000 jobs in construction, engineering and natural resources
- A record $1 billion to build new public schools, which would help satisfy the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision to fully fund our schools—you can’t hire new teachers without building new classrooms for our state’s 1.1 million school kids
- $800 million in projects at our colleges and universities
- Local construction projects in every corner of the state
- Affordable housing funding when the housing crisis is reaching its peak
- Projects to bring safe, clean water to communities throughout Washington
Local projects
Right here in the 22nd LD, we stand to lose millions for important projects that touch nearly everyone in our community.
- Lacey Boys and Girls Club
- Tumwater Boys and Girls Club
- St. Peter Dental Residency program
- LBA Woods acquisition
- Capitol Theater roof replacement
- Old Tumwater Brewhouse rehabilitation project
That list is only the beginning. It doesn’t show school projects, for example, because those are funded in coordination with school districts.
To see a map and description of local projects, click here and choose your county or legislative district.
What’s next?
Lawmakers are now in triple-overtime, the third special session. The House of Representatives has worked in an open, bipartisan fashion to write and pass a capital budget that puts a history making amount of funding into building schools.
Failing to pass a construction budget at all would make history of a different sort. Unlike other states, Washington has always managed to pass all three budgets: operating, capital and transportation.
We’ve passed the operating and transportation budgets. All that’s left to finishing our job is the Senate allowing a vote on the capital budget.
And time is slipping away. This is the middle of the construction season and we needed to be building classrooms two months ago to make sure all of our kids have safe, warm classroom to learn in when school starts up again this September.
If you care about this issue, please call the Legislative Hotline (800-562-6000) and ask your senator to vote for a capital budget that builds a better Washington for our kids.