Supplemental Operating and Capital Budgets

February 27, 2018

Supplemental Operating Budget

The House Democrats passed our supplemental operating budget proposal on Monday night. We prioritized K-12 education, mental health services, the State Need Grant, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). In addition, this proposal leaves $1.6 billion in reserve for the next four years.

Read more about the House Democratic operating budget, here: https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/press-releases/house-democratic-budget-includes-1-billion-in-property-tax-relief-funding-increases-for-public-schools-mental-health-services-financial-aid/.

Supplemental Capital Budget

As a member of the Capital Budget committee, I have made it my priority to fund important projects that help improve our community. For 2018, I have made several requests which made it into the House Democrats’ proposed supplemental Capital Budget. As a member of the Capital Budget committee I have made it a priority to fund important projects that help improve the life for our families and neighbors:

  • $2.4 million for the Spokane County Jail Diversion Facility
  • $1.25 million for the Spokane County Medical Examiner Facility
  • $75K for a new roof for the West Central Community Center
  • $495K to the development of the South Gorge Trail

These projects reflect Spokane’s growth and value, and I look forward to seeing them carried out. I am proud to have helped secure these projects in our proposed Capital Budget.

Read more about the proposed supplemental capital budget here: https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/marcus-riccelli/spokane-projects-funded-in-proposed-house-construction-budget/

Image source: the Spokesman-Review

Tracking my bills

A number of bills I sponsored have passed out of the House and are making their way through the Senate. Here is an update on a few of my priority bills:

  • House Bill 2578 works to combat the affordable housing crisis. HB 2578 would ban landlords from discriminating against potential tenants, based on their source of income. This bill passed out of the House and is scheduled for second reading in the Senate Rules committee.
  • House Bill 2887 changes the way larger counties elect county commissioners to facilitate more direct representation. It passed out of the House with a 83-14 vote and is scheduled in the Senate for a second reading in Rules.
  • House Joint Memorial 4002 renames state route number 395 ‘The Thomas S. (Tom) Foley Memorial Highway’. HJM 4002 passed the House with strong bipartisan support and was heard in the Senate committee on Transportation on Wednesday.
  • House Bill 1715 ensures that hospital staff get adequate meal and rest breaks. HB 1715 passed out of the House and has made it to the committee on Ways and Means in the Senate.
  • House Bill 2443 adds Washington State University to the Family Medicine Residency Network. HB 2443 was a unanimous ‘yes’ vote for the House and is currently scheduled for second reading in the Senate Rules committee.

As always, I appreciate your engagement. Please keep in touch!

Best regards,

Riccelli signature

Representative Marcus Riccelli
3rd Legislative District – Spokane