WA supplemental budget passes unanimously

OLYMPIA — The Washington state legislature unanimously passed its $1.5 billion supplemental capital budget on Wednesday with investments in housing and infrastructure across the state.

Last year’s 2021-23 capital budget appropriated $6.3 billion toward construction and infrastructure projects statewide; the new supplemental budget brings the total to $7.8 billion and is funded by states bonds and the Federal Investment and Jobs Act.

Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, said the budget passed is historically robust. It addresses critical issues such as affordable housing and behavioral health while combating a supply chain shortage fueled by the pandemic.

“This is not just two by fours and concrete,” Tharinger said. “It is helping people in crisis.”

The majority of appropriated funds are for housing, infrastructure, water, broadband internet access and seismic reinforcements for schools. The legislature also appropriated nearly $100 million for behavioral health and crisis stabilization.

The Rapid Captial Housing Acquisition Program received a $300 million appropriation to convert properties into various emergency and affordable public housing options. The program is intended for transferring people from encampments to permanent housing situations.

Another $114.5 million goes toward the Housing Trust Fund and $14.9 million for homeless youth facilities. Other appropriated housing funds will go toward competitive grants and community preservation.

The legislature appropriated $72 million toward behavioral health to expand care for individuals in crisis. The funding creates a 23-hour crisis triage and crisis stabilization facilities. Another $26.2 million provides services such as triage, crisis diversion, detox and more.

Around $200 million is set aside for infrastructure projects around the state. The funding is split up between competitive projects identified by the Public Works Board, the Community Economic Revitalization Board, local infrastructure projects and ports.

Among the funded projects is the replacement for the Almira Elementary School, which was devastated by a fire in October. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said education is always a top priority and the lack of facilities only made it more significant.

“When a community as small as Almira loses a school like that,” Warnick said. it’s devastating to the whole community.”

The School Seimisc Safety Grant Program, created by Senate Bill 5933, received $100 million in funding to retrofit schools built before 1998 which do not meet the 2005 seismic standards. The grants account for around two-thirds of the costs to retrofit prioritized facilities.

Several other investments are also made for K-12 education to prioritize modernization and the construction of new facilities. Investments also include grants to early learning and childcare facilities.

Higher education facilities around the state received funding for new projects and infrastructure repairs, including Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.

Warnick said she was disappointed that Gov. Inslee’s $4 million appropriation for Moses Lake’s Samaritan Hospital did not make it into the final budget. The hospital is looking to relocate to its new property, but first, it must secure funding for its $160 million facility.

A $1.2 million appropriation will go toward constructing a Confluence Health Treatment Center in Moses Lake. Another $1.2 million will fund the construction of a Civil Air Patrol Hanger in Ephrata.

Other District 13 infrastructure projects include a downtown revitalization in Cle Elum, an event center in Mattawa, a gazebo in Roslyn and an interpretative center in Ellensburg. Lincoln County Fire District 1 is also receiving funds for a helipad in Sprague.

Rep. David Hackney, R-Tukwila, applauded the legislature’s effort in including broadband internet funding across the state. Royal City and the rest of District 13 are scheduled to receive a new broadband office and three towers.

“Urban and suburban areas have the infrastructure,” Hackney said, “but many of our rural areas and Indian country don’t.”

The supplemental capital budget addresses concerns over costs which has left portions of the state behind. He said that the new investment in broadband internet will increase network speeds for typically underserved areas.

Legislators appropriated more than $360 million to prioritize clean drinking water and address water pollution. The legislature also set $2 million aside for farmland protection and another $3 million to further fund the voluntary stewardship program.

Another $6.5 million is going toward state parks, including the Crab Creek Trestle on the Palouse to Cascades Trail. The funding will help design and reconstruct the trestle destroyed by fires in 2021 and 2019.