A tale of 2 budgets

The state Legislature is down to its final two weeks of session. It means negotiations are going strong between the House and the Senate. They must agree on a budget soon, as session ends on April 28.

The House is proposing a $34.5 billion budget and the Senate has crafted a $33.21 billion proposal.

Some local projects included in the House's proposal are $300,000 for the Boys and Girls Club's new clubhouse in Moses Lake, $2.1 million for farmworker housing in Grant County (named "Esperanza II") and $650,000 in roof, facility and site repairs at Big Bend Community College.

Proposed rail project funding include $3,500 for the Port of Moses Lake, $1,000 for the Port of Warden and $900 for the Port of Quincy.

In the Senate, legislators are considering many projects, including $110 million to address water supply issues in Grant, Kittitas and Yakima counties, and solve contamination issues in the City of Warden.

Remember, these are only proposed projects at this point.

The Senate's package offers a $1.87 billion increase in total revenue without adding new taxes, which would result in a projected 6.1 percent total revenue increase. We like the Senate's approach to looking out for taxpayers' wallets.

Other items of interest include a possible $1.5 billion for the court-mandated McCleary Supreme Court Decision, which is the result of a lawsuit that claimed the state wasn't adequately funding public education.

The House is proposing $1.2 billion to fund schools required by the McCleary decision.

An estimated $1.3 billion in revenue could result from closing 15 tax exemptions and lengthen expiring business and occupation taxes, according to the House's proposal. While this brings in money for the state, it doesn't help businesses that have to shell out more money for taxes.

We hope legislators can agree on a responsible budget that saves taxpayers money, keeps important local projects and spurs economic growth in the Columbia Basin.

- Editorial Board