Dear friends and neighbors,

As hard as it is to believe, the 2022 legislative session came to an end last week. Though we had some long days during this 60-day session, we’re so proud of what we were able to accomplish this year. Especially, the historic investments we made to put money directly back into our communities.

In this special budget edition e-newsletter, we would like to share with you some of the most important investments we made to make Washington an even better state to call home.

Supporting Families, Jobs & Economic Growth

Over the last 60 days, we were able to put together a supplemental state budget centered around jobs, economic growth, and supporting Washington families.

With some help from one-time additional federal revenue to assist our state in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, we had the unique opportunity to leverage those funds to meet the many challenges Washington families are facing every day.

Our supplemental state budget includes:

• Small businesses and economic recovery, including expanded Business and Occupation tax credits, $100 million for restaurants and hospitality businesses, $75 million for disaster response, and $25 million for arts programs.
• K-12 education: $2.3 billion for 2021-23, plus an additional $808 million in 2022 for investments in student transportation; nutrition, outdoor education, teacher salaries; and counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers.
• Children, youth and families: $827 million for 2021-23, plus an additional $245 million in 2022 to increase funding for childcare and providers and give stipends to youth who aged out of extended foster care during the pandemic.
• Homelessness and housing: $1.7 billion for 2021-23, plus an additional $318 million in 2022 including utility and rental assistance, landlord cost mitigation, homeless service and shelter providers, and a record transfer of $500 million to bolster the Housing Trust Fund.
• Public health and healthcare: $1.3 billion for 2021-23, plus an additional $837 million in 2022 to fund Washington’s COVID response and vaccination efforts, Medicaid dental services, and community health centers.
• Behavioral health: $520 million for 2021-23, plus an additional $277 million in 2022 to invest in substance use and mental health providers, recovery and treatment; housing and employment; and funding for crisis, outreach and diversion programs.
• Long-term care and developmental disabilities: $1.2 billion for 2021-23, plus an additional $1.2 billion for 2022 to fund provider rate increases and wages; employment and community services for people with developmental disabilities; and personal needs allowance increases.
• College and workforce development: $158 million in 2021-23, plus an additional $283 million in 2022 to create the Washington Student Loan Program; expand the Washington College Grant; and increase funding for healthcare and nursing education, training, and tuition assistance.
• Public safety, legal aid, and corrections: $189 million in 2021-23, plus an additional $215 million in 2022 to strengthen our response to domestic terrorism, fund the Office of Independent Investigations, domestic violence and sexual assault response, and civil legal aid.
• Natural resources: $342 million in 2021-23, plus an additional $620 million in 2022 to increase funding for salmon habitat and recovery, recreational lands maintenance, wildfire suppression and recovery, solar incentives, and invasive species control.

Move Ahead Washington

We passed a transformational $16 billion, 16-year package that creates a better future for our transportation sector. We hosted over 90 listening sessions to hear the top transportation priorities from communities across the state. This package addresses the concerns we heard and reflects our focus on meeting the needs of every community.

Highlights include:

• $3 billion to fix our existing infrastructure.
• $5.4 billion toward electrification, expanding affordable, accessible options and reducing our carbon footprint.
• $3.1 billion to expand reliable transit service.
• $50 million to create bike and pedestrian routes and increase opportunities for good jobs in the transportation sector.

Major Projects in the 5th LD

SR 18 Widening – Issaquah Hobart Rd over Tiger Mountain: $640 million

East King County residents have been waiting years for the final phase of widening Highway 18 from Issaquah-Hobart Road to the Raging River. These much-needed improvements will make this route over Tiger Mountain safer as a divided, four-lane road.

Maple Valley Pedestrian Bridge over SR 169: $5 million

This pedestrian bridge will increase safety for people who need to cross over SR 169 from Rock Creek Elementary School to the Farmers Market and park across the street. The lack of crosswalks and official sidewalks in this area has resulted in numerous accidents.

Significant Projects in our Area

Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail “Bellevue Gap”: $6.9 million

The “Bellevue Gap” is a 3.6-mile segment of the trail between Factoria Blvd and Lakemont Blvd. This project will make this segment safer for bicyclists.

 I-405/SR 167 Corridor Improvements: $380 million

This will improve the flow and safety of traffic for working families and bolster our rapid bus transit option to give drivers an alternative method of daily commute.

 I-90 Snoqualmie Pass – Widen to Easton: $178 million

This project gives travelers a safer six-lane freeway, minimized closures due to avalanches and rockslides, and a smoother ride on new pavement designed to last 50 years.

Eastrail Multi-Use Corridor through Bellevue: $18 million

This project will provide a safe, well-lit, and green walkable path.

Eastrail Corridor South: $6 million

This will extend Eastrail from Milepost 5 to the South Coulon Park/Southport entrance.

Capital Budget Investments

Washington’s capital budget generally provides funding support for buildings and physical infrastructure projects throughout the state. This year, we were able to make significant investments in affordable housing & shelter for families, broadband & water system upgrades, K-12 school improvements, and more. Best of all, we did it with broad bipartisan support because everyone, both Democrat & Republican, had a seat at the table. We were proud to secure funding for important community projects here in the 5^th LD, including:

• Snoqualmie Valley Senior Center affordable housing project
• Black Diamond community skate park
• Lake Wilderness Lodge emergency generator

Additional capital budget highlights include:

Housing and shelter – $439 million for investments in rapid housing acquisition, permanent supportive housing, support for homeless youth, and preservation of existing mobile and manufactured housing.

Behavioral health – $111 million for residential crisis triage and stabilization facilities, community behavioral health capacity grants, and capital investments at state-run behavioral health facilities.

Early learning, public schools, and higher education – $101 million for seismic upgrades at public schools, early learning facility projects, public university improvements, public community and technical colleges support, and historically distressed public school grants.

Essential infrastructure – $308 million for the Public Works Board (PWB), clean water, the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), specific infrastructure projects around the state, and infrastructure at ports.

Broadband – $100 million for the State Broadband Office, and broadband projects in unserved and underserved areas.

Clean energy – $101 million for low-income weatherization, energy efficiency upgrades, solar manufacturing, and replacing T12 lighting in K-12 schools.

Natural Resources – $271 million for water pollution control facilities, salmon recovery, Springwood Ranch, state parks projects, and the Voluntary Stewardship Program.

Local & Community Projects – $64 million for requested local projects, dental capacity, and food banks.

More information about  operating, capital and transportation investments can be found at leap.leg.wa.gov, and projects can be mapped at the county or legislative district level at fiscal.wa.gov.

Thank you for taking the time to read this report. If you have questions or feedback, be sure to contact our offices anytime.

Sincerely,