Tag Archives: Sen. Mark Schoesler

Legislature OKs Schoesler bill to help school districts address maintenance needs

A bill introduced by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that aims to help school districts in Washington address their building-maintenance needs is heading to the governor’s desk after being passed by the Legislature.

Senate Bill 5403 would allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to 2% of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year.

“It’s good to see this bill finally get through the Legislature,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It provides another way for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs. Sometimes it can be better for a school district to pay cash for a building repair or to set aside money for emergencies when they arise. Establishing this subfund, which is voluntary, is a way to help students learn in a healthy environment since school buildings would be in better condition.”

The Senate unanimously passed SB 5403 in March. After the House added a floor amendment and then approved the altered proposal on an 89-8 vote on April 12, the Senate today voted 48-0 to concur (or agree) with the House’s amended version. The House floor amendment would make the bill applicable only to school districts with fewer than 2,000 students.

During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, the Senate twice easily passed an earlier version of Schoesler’s bill. Senate Bill 5202 reached the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House voting calendar in both sessions before stalling.

Schoesler statement on Democrats’ new bill raising property taxes

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement after Senate Democrats introduced Senate Bill 5770, which would triple the annual growth rate of both state and local property taxes in Washington.

“The Senate Democrats’ bill to raise property taxes is just another example of their incurable addiction for more money. Their operating budget this year is the most expensive in state history and calls for record spending in virtually all areas. Their cap-and-tax program is costing drivers far more in fuel prices. The state Supreme Court just upheld their tax on capital-gains income, so you know they’ll eventually try to squeeze even more money out of people with that new tax. And there is a bill still alive that would make the ‘death tax’ more expensive for some. But all of that is not enough for them. Now, the Democrats want to pass an 11th-hour bill that would triple the growth rate of both state and local property taxes. Many people around our state are asking for tax relief and this is the Democrats’ response?! Unbelievable. Taxpayers have had enough!”

Schoesler, who serves the 9th Legislative District, is a longtime member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which deals with budget and tax issues.

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.

Republican senators sponsor bill to ensure farmers, other exempt-fuel users receive exemption from Climate Commitment Act

When the Climate Commitment Act was passed by majority Democrats in 2021, creating a “cap-and-tax” program for greenhouse gas emissions that is expected to significantly raise fuel prices, the measure included an exemption for farmers and other groups from paying the surcharge created by the program.

But since the law was implemented by the state Department of Ecology on Jan. 1 of this year, the expected exemption for farm diesel and fuel used by the maritime industry has not taken effect, angering farmers and others who expect to benefit from it.

A pair of eastern Washington Republican senators is sponsoring a bill that aims to fix the problem.

Senate Bill 5728 would develop a process to implement exemptions for farm diesel and other certain fuels under the “cap-and-tax” program. It has been sent to the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. No public hearing has been scheduled.

“When the Climate Commitment Act was being drafted, we were told famers would receive an exemption and not pay higher fuel taxes. That did not happen,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, 16th District Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg. “The Department of Ecology should be responsible for finding a solution to ensure that farmers and the maritime industry are not burdened with the higher fuel costs as a result of the cap-and-tax legislation.”

“After I learned that the farm-fuel exemption had not been implemented, I asked the Department of Ecology why,” said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “DOE officials have blamed “Big Oil” for the lack of an exemption so far. They also say this exemption will be extended this summer, apparently forgetting that farm work goes on well before summer. The exemption on fuel for the agriculture and maritime industries needs to take effect now, not months from now.”

Under the proposal, DOE and the Department of Revenue must create a method to determine the additional amount paid by an end user of exempt fuel, such as a farmer, due to a fuel supplier’s compliance obligation. Compensation to an end user must be paid no later than 14 days after DOE receives an application for reimbursement.

Schoesler again offers bill to help school districts address maintenance needs

For the fifth straight year, 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler has a measure before the Legislature that aims to help school districts in Washington address their building-maintenance needs.

Senate Bill 5403 would allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to 2 percent of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year.

“This bill would provide another path for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Sometimes it can be better for a school district to pay cash for a building repair or to set aside money for emergencies when they arise. Establishing this subfund, which is voluntary, is a way to help students learn in a healthy environment since school buildings would be in better condition.

“School administrators have recognized the value of this proposal, and I’m optimistic that my colleagues in the Senate and House will agree and vote to approve it this year.”

The bipartisan proposal has been assigned to the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee for consideration.

During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, the Senate twice easily passed an earlier version of Schoesler’s bill. Senate Bill 5202 reached the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House floor calendar in both sessions before stalling.

Schoesler introduced a similar measure during the 2019 and 2020 sessions, but it was not passed by the Senate.