Tag Archives: Pomeroy

Schoesler says Senate capital budget good for state, 9th District projects

The version of the 2023-25 state capital budget unanimously passed today by the Senate would address both statewide needs and local projects, says 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

“The Senate’s capital budget would respond to needs all throughout Washington, and provide funding for important projects in a wide variety of categories, from education and public safety to housing and water and more,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville and the Republican lead on the Senate capital budget. “I’m pleased this budget would support many projects that will help our colleges and universities, and I’m especially glad to see money for school seismic-safety grants, which is important since our state is in earthquake country. I’m also pleased by the funding for water-supply projects, which would benefit agriculture and other water users. The Senate’s capital budget takes a statewide approach, as it should, but it also funds several projects in the 9th District.

“This is a true bipartisan capital budget in which Republicans and Democrats worked together for the good of Washington. I’m pleased with it both from a local perspective and how it would help the state overall,” added Schoesler, who has worked on the Senate capital budget since 2021.

The Senate capital budget would provide $1.2 billion for higher education, including funding for projects at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University, both in the 9th District. It also would provide significant funding to water-supply projects in the Columbia, Yakima and Chehalis River basins.

The Senate plan also would offer funding for two State Patrol crime labs, as well as the construction of criminal justice training centers in Spokane, Bellingham and Clark County so that law-enforcement officers can receive needed training closer to home. The Senate spending plan also includes $625 million for housing-related investments.

The WSU projects include:

  • Engineering Student Success Building construction ($40 million)
  • Eastlick-Abelson Hall renovation ($22 million)
  • Infrastructure improvements at Knott Dairy Farm, source of the milk for Cougar Gold cheese ($10 million)
  • Bustad Hall renovation ($8 million)
  • Clean building standard energy efficiency improvements ($5 million)

The EWU projects include:

  • Science Department renovations ($58 million)
  • Minor preservation projects ($16.75 million)
  • Rozell Plant upgrade ($12 million)
  • Martin-Williamson Hall ($350,000)

Several small school districts in the 9th District would receive funding from the Senate capital budget for planned projects:

  • Asotin/Anatone School District ($35,000)
  • Davenport School District ($25,000)
  • Garfield School District ($33,000)
  • Kahlotus School District ($38,000)
  • Oakesdale School District ($38,000)
  • Starbuck School District ($33,000)

Other school districts in the 9th District receive Senate capital budget funding for actual projects:

  • Davenport School District ($2.186 million)
  • Dayton School District ($5 million)
  • Sprague School District ($5 million)

Two 9th District projects would receive Heritage Capital Grant funding through the Senate capital budget:

  • Cheney Depot phase 4 work involving the train viewing platform ($22,000)
  • Pullman Depot Heritage Center restoration ($237,000)

Three projects in the district receive Washington Wildlife Recreation Program funding:

  • Zakarison Farmland protection ($249,000)
  • Asotin Creek Wildlife Area access points ($153,000)
  • Asotin Creek Wildlife Area campgrounds ($280,000)

There are four district projects that receive Youth Athletic Facilities funding:

  • Pomeroy ball field lighting installation ($350,000)
  • Pomeroy football field improvements ($350,000)
  • Colfax pool upgrade ($350,000)
  • Touchet Valley Golf Course irrigation ($143,000)

Other 9th District projects funded by the Senate capital budget include:

  • Colfax Pool ($706,000)
  • Dishman Hills Conservancy Education Center site planning in Spokane ($46,000)
  • EWAM handicap parking improvement project in Pomeroy ($98,000)
  • Latah water system rehabilitation project ($180,000)
  • Lincoln County Fair and Livestock ($1 million)
  • Whitman County Fire Recovery ($961,000)
  • Ritzville Legion Hall renovation ($165,000)
  • Ritzville Theater ($75,000)
  • Washtucna Town Hall ($20,000)
  • Coyote Ridge Corrections Center’s modular building for health service staff ($428,000)

The House of Representatives will unveil its capital budget proposal next week. Once the House passes its budget plan, Schoesler will meet with other Senate and House capital budget writers to reach agreement on a final version before the legislative session ends on April 23.

Schoesler applauds Legislature’s passage of supplemental capital budget

Sen. Mark Schoesler is pleased with the Legislature’s unanimous passage of a compromise state supplemental capital budget that funds several projects in the 9th Legislative District.

The capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public land, parks and other assets throughout Washington.

The Senate today voted 49-0 to pass the final version of the capital budget, Senate Bill 6248. The House approved it 97-0 Wednesday. It now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

“Representatives Dye and Schmick and I asked capital budget leaders to put several local and community projects in either the House or Senate version of the capital budget this year,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “I’m pleased these projects are included in the final version of the budget, because several of our communities will benefit.”

The capital budget includes $25,000 in funding that Schoesler requested for emergency structural repairs to the Van Marter Building in Lind. In May 2019, the building underwent a structural engineering assessment, which determined that five heavy timber supports and new concrete footings must be replaced immediately to prevent the loss of the building’s main floor.

“The engineer who performed the assessment determined these repairs require urgent attention for safety reasons,” said Schoesler, “I’m glad the capital budget provides funding so these repairs can be done soon.”

The Adams County Historical Society hopes to renovate the Van Marter Building so it can become the Adams County Museum.

The capital budget appropriates nearly $1.27 million for the 9th District, including these other local projects:

  • Pasco Landfill ($1 million)
  • Design and construction of a pipeline and pump station as part of the Odessa groundwater replacement program ($175,000)
  • Pataha Flour Mill elevator in Pomeroy ($40,000)
  • Pomeroy Booster Pumping Station ($16,000)
  • Asotin County Library meeting space in Clarkston ($13,000)

9th District legislators secure support in new capital budget for local projects

The 9th Legislative District team of Sen. Mark Schoesler and Reps. Mary Dye and Joe Schmick applauded today’s passage of a new two-year state capital (construction) budget that includes funding for dozens of projects in the district.

The $4.9 billion capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public lands, parks and other assets throughout Washington. 

The Senate voted 48-0 to pass the final version of the capital budget (Substitute House Bill 1102) Saturday night. The House approved it 97-1 today.

“There were many local and community projects that Representatives Dye and Schmick and I asked to be put in either the House or Senate version of the capital budget early this session, and I’m pleased to see they are included in the final version negotiated during the past several days,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It’s good to see that this budget will help fund our local projects.”   

“Citizens across the 9th District send a lot of their hard-earned money to Olympia in the form of taxes. The capital budget is a way to get some of that back to provide needed improvements and projects that create jobs and benefit the folks back home,” said Dye, R-Pomeroy, and a member of the House Capital Budget Committee. “I’m honored to be able to work with my seatmates and colleagues on the Capital Budget Committee to help fund these projects in the 9th District.”

“Local projects such as these help strengthen our rural communities and provide much-needed infrastructure improvements that might otherwise be financially unattainable,” said Schmick, R-Colfax.  “Legislators from the 9th District work as a team to get these needed projects into the budget.  I’m pleased with the results and know our citizens will benefit from our efforts.”

Nearly $85.7 million is appropriated for 9th District projects funded in the final capital budget, including these local projects:

  • Pullman Airport Utility Extension – $1.626 million
  • Asotin Masonic Lodge – $62,000
  • Colfax Pantry Building – $247,000
  • Garfield County Hospital HVAC system, Pomeroy – $250,000
  • Washtucna Historical Museum and Community Center roof replacement – $24,000
  • Othello regional water project – $425,000
  • Pomeroy booster pumping station – $96,000
  • Prairie View Schoolhouse Community Center, Waverly – $112,000
  • Ritzville Business and Entrepreneurship Center – $350,000
  • Rosalia sewer improvements – $500,000
  • Lions Park infields and restroom renovation in Othello – $347,000

The capital budget’s Library Capital Improvement Program provides $923,000 for the Asotin County Library Building Phase II project.

The capital budget also funds several projects at Washington State University, including $36.4 million for its Global Animal Health Building, $700,000 for improvements to facilities related to animal care, $800,000 to replace the Dairy Heifer Barn, and around $20 million for more than a dozen infrastructure or minor works projects on the Pullman campus. 

The budget provides $1.75 million for the Student Activity Center project at Walla Walla Community College’s Clarkston campus.

A request by Schoesler and 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, for funding for the North I-90 Odessa Aquifer Groundwater Replacement Project was successful, as the final capital budget provides $15 million for it.

The Othello Aquifer Storage and Recharge project receives $500,000 through the Columbia River Water Supply Development Program.