Legislators push for local priorities in state House budgets

Pellicciotti & Reeves secure $35M in House budget to support South Sound communities

Olympia, WA (March 27, 2019) – On Wednesday, 30th District Legislators, Representatives Mike Pellicciotti and Kristine Reeves, released a list of local priorities to be funded in the proposed House of Representatives operating, capital and transportation budgets. Much of these funds direct state resources to improve health access, community development, access to services, and the overall quality of life.

Here are the local projects funded in the proposed budgets:

OPERATING:

  • $80,000 (2020) – REACH Center – to research youth violence prevention strategies and explore new and existing resources to implement evidence-based youth violence prevention strategies in Federal Way per the recommendation of the Federal Way Violence Prevention Coalition Steering Committee.
  • $1,000,000 (20-21) – Highline College – to implement the Federal Way higher education initiative in partnership with the City of Federal Way and the University of Washington-Tacoma campus.
  • $150,000 (20-21) – City of Federal Way – to support after-school recreational and educational programs per the recommendation of the Federal Way Violence Prevention Coalition Steering Committee.
  • $300,000 (20-21) – International Families Justice Coalition – to expand access for legal services in contested domestic relations and family law cases.
  • $300,000 (20-21) – Airport Impacts Study – To study and identify the current and ongoing health impacts of the SeaTac international airport in our region.
  • $300,000 (20-21) – Highline College – for the Puget Sound Welcome Back Center to create a grant program for internationally-trained individuals seeking employment in the behavioral health field in Washington State.
  • $288,000 (20-21) – Local non-profit – to provide outreach and connect homeless young adults ages eighteen through twenty-four to services in south King County.

CAPITAL:

  • $500,000 (2020) – Auburn Arts & Culture Center (Auburn) included in the Local Community Projects account.
  • $1,000,000 (2020) – El Centro de la Raza Community Services Building (Federal Way) included in the Local Community Projects account.
  • $535,000 (19-21) – Nexus Youth and Families (Auburn) to expand and establish new capacity for behavioral health services in communities.
  • $3,000,000 (19-21) – FUSION Emergency Family Shelter (Federal Way) included in the Housing Trust Fund account.
  • $25,000,000 (19-21) – MultiCare Contract (Auburn) to provide a mixed-use psychiatric care facility.
  • $500,000 (2019-21) Weyerhaeuser Campus (North Lake) Land Preservation.

TRANSPORTATION:

  • $650,000 (2019-21) Federal Way Dash Point Road/4th Ave South Safety Improvements
  • $700,000 (2019-21) Federal Way 21st Ave South/320th Signal Improvements
  • $45,000 (2019-21) Connecting Washington – Pedestrian & Bike Projects
  • $45,000 (2019-21) City of Pacific Interurban Trail
  • $1,350,000 (2019-21) Local Programs Improvement Projects
  • $85,000 (2021-27) I-5 Puget Sound Area Improvements
  • $85,000 (2019-27) I-5 Federal Way Triangle Vicinity Improvements

The recent two-year budget proposals include several priority investments, such as:

  • Required follow-on funding in our K-12 system to close the gap in special education funding, Local Effort Assistance (LEA) funding, as well as school employee healthcare requirements and provides increased funding for student mental health and safety to ensure all of our students are getting a safe, high-quality education.
  • Needed improvements and expansions to the community behavioral health system to help people in crisis while addressing the need for compliance with our Trueblood settlement agreement.
  • Taking care of our state employees by funding negotiated contracts.

These budget proposals also focus on a variety of investments across the state that benefit all Washingtonians, which your state legislators have supported, including:

  • Seniors & Veterans Property Tax Relief that supports our neighbors to stay in their homes.
  • Full-spectrum affordable housing investments that create access and stability.
  • Expansions in early childhood development and childcare access and affordability.
  • Increased public safety, healthcare, and college and workforce investments.

The House Operating budget is scheduled for a vote on Friday, March 29, after which it will be sent to the state Senate. The Senate budget is expected to be released in the coming days and once voted upon, will be sent to the House. Once both budgets are voted upon, they will be sent to “conference” for negotiation on a final budget proposal and eventually adoption by the entire legislature before the close of the legislative session, which is scheduled for April 28, 2019.

For more information on the individual budget proposals, you can visit:

House Operating Budget: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2019/hoBillPSHB1109_0325.pdf

House Capital Budget: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2019/hcBillPSHB1102_0325.pdf

House Transportation Budget: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2019/htLEAPDoc2019-2_0325.pdf