School construction gets big boost in $4B state capital budget

One of AGC’s top legislative priorities this year was passage of a capital budget that increases investments in long-term construction projects. Therefore AGC applauds passage of the 2015-2017 state capital budget and the significant new investments that it makes.

New headquarters for the Washington State Patrol ($69M) and a new Carver Gym at Western Washington University ($64M) are among the scores of construction projects to be funded via the capital budget recently signed by Governor Inslee. Overall the measure includes nearly $4B in appropriations -- about $500M more than the previous biennium.

For a summary of the legislation including the list of projects funded by it click here.

A particular highlight of the capital budget is the amount of funding for school construction.  In addition to regular funding for school construction the capital budget incorporated bill SB 6080. This provides an additional $200M to the state’s current school-construction budget launching a six-year building program that would provide funding for up to 2200 classrooms for kindergarten through third-grade students. In total the capital budget provides $875M for K-12 projects.

A sampling of other projects in the capital budget:

• $30M for projects to improve the water supply in the Yakima River Basin a 30-year plan to ensure water for fish farmers and municipalities;

• $32.5M for expansion of the Computer Science and Engineering building at the University of Washington;

• $54.5M for WSU’s University Center building in Everett;

• $5M in support of the Community Park in Covington;

• $7M for the cancer immunotherapy facility at Seattle Children’s Research Institute;

• $2.6M toward the clean-up costs at the former Harbor Paper mill site in Hoquiam.

For more information contact AGC’s Chief Lobbyist Jerry VanderWood 360.352.5000.