House Capital Budget Committee & House Transportation Committee

House budgets focus on building a better Washington

2007-09 Transportation Budget Highlights (PDF)

Budget Overview (LEAP, PDF)
Proposed Transportation Budget Bill (1094, PDF)

2007-09 Capital Budget Highlights (PDF)

Budget Details (LEAP, PDF)
Proposed Capital Budget Bill (1092, PDF)

Transportation and capital budgets invest in the basics and keep projects moving

March 19, 2007

Olympia – As lawmakers near the final stretch of the 2007 session, their biggest tasks of the year come due – passing new biennial budgets.

Leaders of the House Capital Budget and Transportation Committees took a major step in that direction today, unveiling their budget plans for 2007-09. Their proposals focus on building a better Washington by investing in critical infrastructure and community projects such as schools, parks and housing, and keeping transportation projects throughout the state moving forward.

“The process of building a better Washington begins with bipartisanship,” said State Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver) who chairs the House Capital Budget Committee. “I appreciate how Representative McDonald and I have been able to work together for the people of this state, and I look forward to our continued cooperation as we move forward."

The House Capital Budget draft includes:

$879 million for K-12 school construction assistance, which is a significant increase over last biennium.

$140 million for the Housing Trust Fund, which supports creation of affordable housing options throughout the state.

Significant investments in parks and natural resources funding, including $100 million for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Project, and $114 million for the Trust Land Transfer program. A separate $220 million is earmarked for Puget Sound and Salmon recovery efforts.

$22.4 million for a new Community Development Fund which this year gives 18 grants to distressed communities for capital projects. These grants fund projects like community centers and clinics that deliver needed services to help underserved communities.

$1.5 million for pre-design and design of expansions at the State Penitentiary and the McNeil Island Corrections Center.

Ranking member State Rep. Joyce McDonald (R-Puyallup) said she is pleased that major priorities of the capital budget were addressed, such as higher education, K-12 school construction, parks and corrections, while leaving some capacity for supplemental budgets.

"This is a bricks-and-mortar budget that will create jobs in our state while providing infrastructure for our communities, schools for our children, parks for our families, and building upon a better quality of life in Washington," said McDonald. "We're also very concerned for public safety and keeping criminals behind bars. This budget works to provide $2.3 million to plan for additional bed capacity at the Washington Correctional Center in Shelton, McNeil Island, and the state penitentiary in Walla Walla."

Leaders of the House Transportation Committee say their budget reflects a need to keep existing projects moving before investing in new ones.

“We’ve made enormous investments in safety and congestion improvement projects throughout the state,” said State Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island), Chair of the House Transportation Committee. “Our most important priority right now is to keep those projects moving forward, especially with the Viaduct and SR 520. We must get these projects done on time so that’s what we’re aiming to do and that’s where we’re putting our money.”

State Rep. Fred Jarrett (D-Mercer Island) is the ranking Republican on the committee and fully agrees.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure taxpayer dollars are delivering transportation value,” commented Jarrett. “If we want to build trust and accountability, it must start with delivering on the promises we’ve already made.”

The $7.4 billion transportation budget draft maintains all funding commitments for the 432 projects funded in the 2003 and 2005 packages. The budget also includes:

$2 billion to help cover soaring project risk and inflation costs for construction materials over the 16-year plan.
$78 million for the Management Reserve Fund to cover additional cost over-runs in the next two years.
$1 billion risk pool is created for Viaduct and 520 projects.
$12 million to find a site for pontoon construction for SR 520 project.

Both committees are holding public hearings on their budget drafts this week.

The House Capital Budget Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30.

Listen or watch on TVW

The House Transportation Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 19 at 3:30.

Listen or watch on TVW

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Media contacts

State Rep. Bill Fromhold – 360.786.7924 or Fromhold.Bill@leg.wa.gov .

Website and print-quality image: housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/Fromhold

State Rep. Joyce McDonald – 360.786.7948 or McDonald.Joyce@leg.wa.gov

Website and print-quality image: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/mcdonald/

State Rep. Judy Clibborn – 360.786.7926 or Clibborn.Judy@leg.wa.gov

Website and print-quality image: housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/Clibborn

State Rep. Fred Jarrett - 360.786.7894 or Jarrett.Fred@leg.wa.gov

Website and print-quality image: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/jarrett/

Staff contacts: Jennifer Zahn Spieler for Capital Budget – 360.786.7201 or Spieler.Jennifer@leg.wa.gov

Jeff Muhm for Transportation – 360.786.7237 or Muhm.Jeff@leg.wa.gov

Radio and TV News Directors: To obtain broadcast-quality audio on this issue, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact Caucus Broadcast Coordinator Dan Frizzell at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov or 360.786.7208

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House budgets focus on building a better Washington

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