OLYMPIA…Sen. Mark Schoesler said the 9th Legislative District fares well in the supplemental capital budget approved by the Legislature tonight, with a highlight being additional funding for important improvements to several state parks in the region.
“Every item on the list is good – money for emergency repairs to the Connell pool, solid funding for conservation efforts and of course more support for critical work at our parks,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “These all were in the version of the capital budget the Senate approved a couple of weeks ago, and I’m glad they now have full legislative approval.”
The 2017-19 capital budget adopted earlier this year supported significant investments in 9th District state parks, but did not go as far as Schoesler hoped. The supplemental capital budget was the final bill approved in the 2018 session, which ended tonight.
“State government supports many recreational opportunities, but nothing tops our state parks because they offer opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. The state parks in our 9th Legislative District are the cream of the crop in my book, and their needs are addressed better through the supplemental capital budget approved today.
The 9th District appropriations are:
- Lyons Ferry State Park campground design and permitting – $400,000
- Fields Spring State Park – repairs and upgrades – $58,000 (in addition to $1,109,000 in the 2017-19 capital budget)
- Steptoe Butte State Park road improvements – $23,000 (in addition to $443,000 in the 2017-19 capital budget)
- Palouse Falls State Park day use area renovation – $11,000 (on top of $209,000 in the 2017-19 capital budget)
- Pioneer Park (Connell) pool house – $25,000
- Match for federal Regional Conservation Partnership Program funding – $2 million
The supplemental capital budget (Senate Bill 6095) now goes to the governor, who has 20 days to sign it.