OLYMPIA, WA – The version of the 2024 supplemental state capital budget unanimously passed yesterday by the Washington State Senate would address a wide variety of statewide needs, as well as local projects, says 9th District Senator Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville). It includes $1 million for TriState Health and $5.245 million for a school repair project in the Asotin-Anatone School District.
“The budget approved today has funding for projects related to K-12 and higher education, public safety, housing, water infrastructure, behavioral health and more. It puts priorities over ‘pork’ and takes a statewide approach, as it well should,” Schoesler says. He is the Republican leader on the Senate capital budget.
From Schoesler’s Office:
“Last summer, we had tragic fires in Spokane County and parts of Pend Oreille (County). When it was my district, this Legislature rallied around Malden and Pine City,” Schoesler said during his floor speech supporting the capital budget, noting that the Senate spending plan provides money for wildfire cleanup of home sites for contamination and other problems caused by the fires.
Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said this year’s Senate capital budget does more to support school construction than any he’s seen in his 32 years as a state legislator.
“School construction is one thing that the state is supposed to be a partner in,” added Schoesler. “In Spokane County, five school bonds failed, which is unusual. They didn’t fail because these people don’t like their schools. They failed because their property taxes are too high to begin with. If we can help them buy down the cost of these bonds, the outcome should be positive next time.”
The examples of support for K-12 in the Senate capital budget (Senate Bill 5949) include:
- $121.5 million in total funding for construction, maintenance, and improvement in districts across Washington, especially small and tribal school districts.
- Creating a new funding bucket to support skills-center facilities for career and technical education, with $60 million for this year and the opportunity to create continued and sustainable funding for them going forward.
- Providing a $144 million enhancement to the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP), including increasing the state cost allocation match from $272 per square foot to $400 per square foot. This funding implements Senate Bill 5789, a bipartisan proposal that would change the SCAP formula so that the state will pay the full sales-and-use tax levied on all costs chargeable to a school-construction project.
- Includes $35 million for the school modernization loan program proposed under Senate Bill 5344, prime-sponsored by Schoesler.
- Includes $7.5 million in early-learning facility grants.
The Senate capital budget also addresses wildfire-recovery and water needs, providing:
- $3.5 million in toxic clean-up funding for homes affected by the Gray and Oregon Road wildfires that hit Spokane County in 2023.
- $975,000 for Spokane Conservation District to address wildfire recovery.
· $5.5 million for the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program (OGWRP) EL 22.1 project.
Several 9th District school districts receive funding through the small district and tribal compact schools modernization program, including $5.245 million for a school repair project in the Asotin-Anatone School District. Other school districts receiving funding include Creston, Freeman, LaCrosse, Palouse, Pomeroy, Steptoe and Wilbur.
Washington State University’s main campus in Pullman receives $10 million for its campus energy program and another $10 million for a new digester at the Knott Dairy Center, maker of Cougar Gold cheese.
Eastern Washington University in Cheney receives nearly $10 million for energy improvements to its sports and recreation center.
Other local projects in the 9th District that are funded by the Senate capital budget include:
- Tristate Health Hospital in Clarkston ($1 million).
- Tekoa Parks and Recreation ($200,000)
- Davenport Senior Center capital improvements ($120,000)
The House of Representatives unveiled its capital-budget proposal earlier this week. Once the House passes its budget plan, Schoesler will meet with other Senate and House capital budget writers to reach agreement on a final version before the legislative session ends on March 7.
