House subcommittee budget offers investments in safety, environment and housing

January 28, 2008

OLYMPIA – Fiscally responsible budget recommendations proposed today by a House budget subcommittee will invest in safety, environmental and housing needs while maintaining a healthy final balance.

Rep. Kelli Linville (D-Bellingham), chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review, pointed to over $5 million in savings identified by her committee and about $5 million in strategic investments, while working toward a significant reserve in the final budget.

“We worked within Gov. Gregoire’s budget, but even with changes, we share the priorities of safe communities, smart environmental policy and affordable housing,” said Linville. “We need to be fiscally sound as a state while we invest in the future and this budget reflects that prudence.”

The $30.1 million budget recommendation includes 68 agencies in natural resources; judicial, legislative and executive branches; governmental operations; Attorney General’s office; and the State Patrol and Department of Licensing.

“The work of this committee was not only about recommendations for this biennium, but about creating policy and working toward a long-term sustainable budget,” said vice-chair of the committee Rep. Mark Ericks (D-Bothell).

Key investments and highlights:

Safety and Security – Approximately $16.1 million to implement sex offender task force recommendations, enhance State Patrol operations, address investigator salary inequity, improve court systems, and other judicial and law enforcement needs.

• Justice Trax – The Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory catalogs, document and tracks evidence in a database, including DNA for analysis. The budget recommends $200,000 to customize the DNA analysis program to save time by electronically filling out forms, tracking DNA samples through the various laboratory processes and helping to prevent transcription errors.

Environment and Natural Resources – Approximately $16 million to mitigate climate change, address environmental and natural resource needs, and improve environmental permitting.

• The budget recommends $500,000 for a competitive Planning and Environmental Review grant program, a way for cities and counties to identify up-front costs before building and to encourage denser development and affordable housing.

Housing - The Legislature passed a law in 2005 to reduce homelessness, and the budget recommends $500,000 towards that goal, with performance measures and a strong plan.

Government accountability and performance – $17.7 million to improve government operations, Legislative accountability, and information technology in state government. 

• The budget has $200,000 to begin consolidating the state information technology systems, save money, and make the system more efficient without sacrificing quality. 

“Even though we’ve presented budget recommendations, the committee will continue to focus on our audit role and identify even more savings in the state government,” said Linville.

The budget recommendations will have a public hearing tomorrow (Jan. 29) at 8 a.m., in Hearing Room B of the John L. O’Brien Building.