By Sydney Brown / Washington State Journal

Lawmakers passed a $ 6.23 billion capital budget on April 2 in a unanimous vote, allocating millions of state and federal funds to invest in community projects and public works.

“We have put in place a budget that not only meets the infrastructure needs of large urban centers, but prioritizes rural communities struggling to survive after the pandemic,” Representative Mike Steele, R-Chelan, said in a statement. communicated.

For education, the proposal provides $ 781.7 million for the K-12 school construction assistance program and $ 679 million for four-year state institutions. The proposal also offers $ 191 million for the construction of the University of Washington Teaching Hospital.

The budget also includes funding for local projects and grants, with $ 227 million in loans and grants for the Public Works Council and $ 94 million statewide for community projects. An additional $ 175 million would go to the Housing Trust Fund. Nearly $ 26 million would go to grants to increase the capacity to accommodate the homeless.

“We are investing $ 90 million in what we call the rapid acquisition of housing … What we want is to help communities in immediate need to house people,” said Senator David Frockt, D -Seattle.

Money for local health services would also be funded, with $ 69.5 million spent on West State Hospital, East State Hospital, and other facilities. of State.

Improving state parks is also a priority in the capital budget. The State Parks and Recreation Commission would get $ 56.7 million for state parks. Longer-term projects would bring in $ 5.7 billion – some of which comes from general bonds – for schools, public works and parks.

The plan would spend $ 33.7 million for the Yakima River basin and $ 31.7 million for the Columbia River office.

Another $ 189 million from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund would fund health surveillance and education projects. The State Coronavirus Budget Recovery Fund is investing $ 400 million in expanding broadband access, water and wastewater.

A list by county of capital projects funded by this bill can be found here:http://fiscal.wa.gov/CapitalCountyMap.aspx

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