Tag Archives: affordable housing

Legislature unanimously approves supplemental capital budget

The Legislature tonight unanimously passed the 2025-27 state supplemental capital budget following an agreement earlier this week by Senate and House negotiators on a final budget plan. The Senate voted 49-0 to pass the budget after the House approved it 96-0.

Two eastern Washington Republican senators who helped develop the spending plan applauded it for addressing needs on both sides of the Cascades.

“This capital budget passed by the Legislature is truly a bipartisan package that takes a statewide approach in addressing needs,” said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, the lead Republican for the Senate capital budget. “This budget does a very good job for several areas, from K-12 and higher education to water infrastructure, agriculture, housing and flood response.”

“I’m pleased that this budget provides strong funding for water-infrastructure projects on both sides of Washington. The House capital budget had no water projects, so it’s good that we preserved the water projects that were in the Senate capital budget. The final capital budget also funds many small-school modernization projects throughout our state. During negotiations with the House, we insisted on these small-school projects in the budget,” added Schoesler, who commended the Senate capital budget team on developing a solid and prudent budget, especially his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma.

“This budget is an example of making a good thing better. It builds on the very solid capital budget approved in 2025 by accommodating the unforeseen needs that we knew would emerge in the months since then,” said 16^th District Sen. Perry Dozier, who is in his second year as assistant Republican leader on the capital budget. “As our bipartisan Senate team negotiated this final version with the House, we held firm to our positions on critical areas like water infrastructure and support for small school districts – and to me that had a lot to do with the unanimous vote in the Senate today.

“Although people understandably think of construction when it comes to the capital budget, the natural-resources part is also important. That’s where the water projects come in, and this year I’m very pleased that the House agreed with allocating $3.2 million toward the problem of waste tires. Being able to respond to community needs like dealing with that massive tire pile outside Richland is why working on this budget is one of the most uplifting things I get to do as a lawmaker,” added Dozier, R-Waitsburg.

The supplemental capital budget (Senate Bill 6003) totals $889 million. It follows up the $7.5 billion 2025-27 state capital budget enacted last year. The new budget addresses a wide range of needs throughout Washington, with funding for projects related to K-12 and higher education, water infrastructure, flood responses, housing and clean energy.

The revised capital budget provides over $71 million for the Small District and State-Tribal Education Compact (STEC) Schools Modernization Program. The budget also includes:

$21.2 million for the school construction assistance program (SCAP).
$13.9 million in new spending for school seismic safety grants.
$5.4 million for projects for distressed schools.
$3.78 million for a SCAP enhancement program pilot project.
$2.5 million for Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools to fund grants to support lead remediation.
$430,000 for school seismic-safety site class assessments.

Four-year universities and other higher-education institutions benefit from the capital budget. Several Washington State University projects receive funding:

Preserving and improving campus facilities ($6 million).
Cooling and electrical upgrades to Ensminger Pavilion ($1.5 million).
Spokane Team Health Education Building renovation ($7 million).
WSU Creamery lighting and equipment replacement ($1 million).
Virtual fencing grants to enhance climate resiliency ($500,000).

Central Washington University receives money for its electrical feeder line to support the growth of campus and geothermal energy. Capital budget funding goes to Eastern Washington University for projects to preserve and improve campus facilities, as well as to Western Washington University for preventative maintenance for building-system repairs and for projects to preserve and improve campus facilities.

In addition, several campuses in the state’s community and technical college system receive funding for projects, including:

Cascadia College – CC5 Gateway Building.
Lower Columbia College – David Story Field improvements.
Spokane Community College – renovation of the east wing of its Main Building.

Schoesler and Dozier, both farmers, noted the updated capital budget funds agricultural projects, including:

$10 million for cost-share agreements with dairy-farm owners for anaerobic digester development and maintenance projects.
$4.6 million for grants to farmers to buy climate-smart agricultural equipment to reduce on-farm carbon emissions and increase carbon sequestration.
$2.2 million for the design of a new Washington State Department of Agriculture Plant Services Lab at Washington State University’s Prosser campus.
$400,000 for WSU’s soil health research infrastructure, specifically its long-term agroecological research and extension sites (LTARE).

The supplemental capital budget funds water-infrastructure projects on both sides of the Cascades. Those appropriations include $8.977 million for several water-conservation projects across the state, including:

Kennewick Irrigation District main canal lining.

Kittitas Reclamation District South.
Mill Creek passage, Walla Walla – 3^rd to Colville.
Roza Canal floor replacement.
Roza Canal sealing project.
Touchet River mile 42.
Waynita Creek restoration.
Water system efficiency leak detection and repairs.

About $16.1 million is allocated for many local water-infrastructure projects in both western and eastern Washington, including the Chehalis River irrigation project, Othello water supply, Scatter Creek irrigation and pipeline projects, Skagit District 15 irrigation project and Skookumchuck River irrigation fish screen and water conservation projects.

The supplemental capital budget provides funding for disaster and response to the December 2025 floods, including:

$3.1 million for grants to counties for the removal of debris in rivers and other waterways.

$2 million for grants to six counties (King, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom) to evaluate the counties’ risks and needs for flood response, preparedness and prevention.

The capital budget provides money for law-enforcement projects, including:

Over $1 million for Pasco Regional Police Academy improvements.
$350,000 for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s Burien Campus indoor shooting range.
$252,000 for the Criminal Justice Training Commission’s ADA upgrades at the Burien Campus.

The natural resources section of the updated capital budget includes:

$3.5 million for small, family-forest landowners to replace and remove stream-crossing structures, such as culverts, to improve fish passage for salmon, trout and other fish.
$3.2 million to address tire-pile prevention and cleanup, including removing the Twin Bridges Road tire-pile site near Richland.
$630,000 for a new welcome center and stormwater drainage improvements at Millersylvania State Park.

The supplemental capital budget spends $200 million for housing and homelessness, with $123.3 million allocated from the Housing Trust Fund for housing projects in both western and eastern Washington.

Over $30 million in funding is provided for about 120 new local and community projects.

The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to end tonight.

Schoesler impressed by opposition to property-tax increase bill

This is no April Fools’ Day joke: A proposal introduced by Senate Democrats that would significantly raise property taxes in Washington saw more than 43,000 people sign in to oppose it, more than four times the opposition received for any previous bill to receive a public hearing in the Senate.

Senate Bill 5798 would eliminate the 1% cap on annual property-tax increases by state and local governments without requiring voter approval. Future rate increases would be tied to inflation and population growth, potentially raising property taxes by 8% to 9% annually.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, who as a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee sat through Monday’s public hearing on SB 5798, said the record number of people reaching out to the Senate to express opposition to the measure is a crystal-clear sign from the public that it strongly opposes efforts to raise property taxes. The video of the public hearing on SB 5798 can be viewed here.

“Throughout this session, the strongest opposition that my office has received on any tax-increase legislation has been on bills to raise property taxes, especially the bill we heard in Ways and Means Monday night,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “I already knew how unpopular it would be to raise property taxes. But the hearing on SB 5798 was very historic when you realize that over 43,000 people – which is greater than Martin Stadium’s seating capacity at WSU and almost would fill up T-Mobile Park in Seattle – signed up to say they are against this terrible bill.”

Despite the record-shattering public opposition, Democrats on the committee are expected to pass SB 5978 during its meeting on Thursday. If that happens, the proposal will advance to the Senate Rules Committee, the final hurdle before SB 5798 can reach the Senate floor for a full vote.

“Not a single constituent in my 9^th Legislative District has told me they support this bill. In fact, everyone I’ve talked to about this bill has clearly said they don’t want to have more taxes on their home. It’s really disappointing the Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee don’t seem to respect the public’s wishes by killing this bill. When over 43,000 people take time to tell committee members they oppose a certain bill, you’d think those members would listen and think twice about passing it. Unfortunately, the Democrats’ overzealous desire and commitment to squeeze more money out of hard-working Washingtonians knows no bounds,” said Schoesler.

Schoesler praises state capital budget passed by Legislature

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, the Senate Republican leader on the capital budget, issued this statement after the Legislature passed a new state capital budget for 2023-25. It funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public-school matching grants, higher-education facilities, public lands, parks, water infrastructure and other assets.

“This is a win for the people of Washington. It is truly a statewide budget that lives within our means and funds the priorities of government.

“This capital budget responds to needs all throughout our state and provides funding for important projects in a wide variety of categories, from affordable housing to K-12 and higher education, from water supply and water quality needs to salmon recovery, state parks and outdoor recreation.

“I’m pleased by the support for the many projects that will help our colleges and universities, and especially glad to see money for school seismic-safety grants, since Washington is in earthquake country. The funding for water-supply projects, which benefits agriculture and other water users, is a big plus as well.

“Our capital budget takes a statewide approach, as it should. It will benefit many communities throughout Washington.”

Overall, the state capital budget (Senate Bill 5200) appropriates a total of $9 billion in spending, including nearly $694 million for affordable-housing projects; $872 million for K-12 education projects; $1.5 billion in total funding for higher education; $884 million to address behavioral-health needs; and $2.4 billion for natural-resource projects that address water quality and supply, salmon recovery, outdoor recreation and conservation, state parks, state trust lands and more.

The Senate passed the capital budget 48-0 today after the House approved it 96-0 on Friday. It now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for his consideration.

Schoesler, R-Ritzville, serves the 9^th Legislative District.

The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end tomorrow.

Schoesler receives award from Habitat for Humanity for affordable-housing work

Sen. Mark Schoesler received a pleasant surprise this morning: an award from Habitat for Humanity of Washington State for his service and support of affordable housing.

Jennifer Wallace, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity’s Palouse affiliate, presented the award to Schoesler during a legislative breakfast hosted by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“This is such a nice surprise to be honored like this,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Affordable housing has become a serious problem in many communities across Washington, and I’m glad that this year’s capital budget passed by the Legislature provides funding for Habitat for Humanity to help address housing needs in our state.”

The longtime 9th District lawmaker has helped craft the Senate capital budget the past two legislative sessions. He also has negotiated the final capital budget with other legislators.

“Senator Schoesler received this award on behalf of Habitat for Humanity for making an unprecedented investment in affordable homeownership,” said Michone Preston, chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity of Washington State. “People who are experiencing income scarcity can achieve the American dream of homeownership through agencies like Habitat for Humanity, and the Housing Trust Fund investment will provide for 500 more new homes in Washington.

“Habitat for Humanity of Washington State thanks Senator Schoesler for his work on the capital budget,” added Preston. “This funding will ensure that those 500 families working alongside affordable homeownership developers will receive their keys, and their affordable mortgage within the next few years.”