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Rep. John Driscoll, serving the 6th District Serving parts of northern and southern Spokane, and communities in western Spokane County. |
Gov. signs Driscoll's $130 million school construction bill
Legislation will keep local school projects on track
Feb. 18, 2009
OLYMPIA – A commitment to local school districts that state construction
funding will be available this year was signed today by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
The school construction assistance fund is nearly empty due to lower than
expected revenue and from districts asking for funds sooner than planned.
House Bill 1113 puts money back into the school construction assistance
grant program, which school districts use for state assistance with local
projects. The bill allows bonds to be reissued to restore the school
construction fund.
Overall, 67 school districts and 159 construction
projects could have been affected by the shortage in the fund. Nearly $130
million will be used to restock it.
“This legislation provides
much-needed funding to school districts to help complete school construction
and renovation projects,” Gregoire said. “During these tough economic times,
there is nothing more important than to save construction jobs to improve
our education facilities. I want to thank the bill’s sponsors and other
legislators who acted quickly to pass this measure.”
Both Gregoire
and prime sponsor Rep. John Driscoll, D-Spokane, stressed the importance of
signing the bill into law early in the session to avoid school construction
slowdowns.
"Good-paying jobs and better schools were on the line
with this school construction bill," Driscoll said. "In a tough year, we're
sending a message with this bill that our priorities continue to be on
families, kids and quality schools."
“This is about creating jobs
while building schools for our kids,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish,
chair of the House Capital Budget Committee. “It puts Emma the Electrician
and Robert the Roofer to work today while investing in brainpower to boost
our economy tomorrow.”
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Rep. John Driscoll, (360)
786-7962
Print-quality photo:
www.leg.wa.gov/documents/House/Members/Photos/Driscoll.jpg
Staff
contact – Andrew Dziedzic, (360) 786-7218