Tag Archives: water infrastructure projects

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 9th Legislative District.

The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end tomorrow.

Legislature passes capital budget that provides strong broadband funding

The Senate yesterday voted 49-0 to approve a compromise two-year state capital budget. The $6.3 billion spending plan provides a record $413 million toward the expansion of broadband access in Washington.

The House of Representatives voted 98-0 today to pass the capital budget, House Bill 1080.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, who helped negotiate the 2021-23 capital budget agreement, said the emphasis on broadband needs is especially important for the 9th District and other rural parts of the state.

“For many communities in our district and other rural areas, insufficient broadband is a real problem,”: said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “This final budget provides over $400 million to help address it. Better broadband in rural Washington will help students relying on the internet and help small businesses that want to engage in e-commerce. It is also critical to precision farming. This will help put rural and unserved areas of our state on a more equal footing with more populated areas of Washington.”

The capital budget provides a total of $55.4 million in funding for several projects in the 9th District:

Local and community projects:

  • Adams County property/evidence processing facility in Othello – $900,000
  • Esther’s Home in Pasco – $1 million
  • Garfield Pool upgrade – $500,000
  • Wheat Land Fairgrounds (Ritzville) grounds improvement, including upgraded restroom and shower facilities and Americans With Disabilities Act compliance – $150,000
  • Ritzville downtown improvements – $105,000
  • Asotin Masons Hall – $20,000

Infrastructure projects:

  • Malden USDA water – $247,000
  • Othello water conservation system – $515,000

Department of Commerce projects:

  • Port of Pasco’s Reimann Industrial Corridor Center – $7.5 million

2021-23 small school district and tribal compact schools modernization:

  • Garfield School District – $5.224 million
  • Palouse School District – $4.63 million
  • St. John School District – $2.459 million
  • Tekoa Junior/Senior High School – $3.385 million

Washington State University:

  • Campus fire protection and domestic water reservoir – $8 million
  • Clark Hall research lab renovation – $4.9 million
  • Johnson Hall replacement – $8 million
  • Minor capital preservation – $5.497 million
  • WSU Pullman STEM teaching labs – $2.5 million

State Historical Society – heritage capital grant projects:

  • Gladish Community and Cultural Center roof replacement – $120,000
  • LaCrosse Rocks! A Heritage Center on the National Geologic Trail – $131,000
  • Pullman Depot Heritage Center – $266,000

Columbia River water supply development program:

  • Quad Cities (City of West Richland/Richland/Kennewick/Pasco) – $2 million
  • Odessa ground water replacement program – $21 million

Eastern Washington clean sites initiatives:

  • Pasco Landfill – $300,000

State Parks and Recreation Commission:

  • Lyons Ferry State Park campground reestablishment
  • Palouse Falls State Park day-use area renovation

Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board:

  • Cougar Creek – $485,000

Washington wildlife recreation grants:

  • Leland conservation easement – $770,000
  • Leland farmland preservation easement – $241,000
  • Lions Park Pride Rock Playground in Othello – $500,000

Youth athletic facilities:

  • Clarkston Club athletic field renovation – $334,000
  • Lions Park basketball zone in Othello – $350,000
  • Colfax Pool mechanical room renovation – $75,000
  • The Pit youth facilities – $33,000

Schoesler pointed out the capital budget also provides the state Department of Agriculture with $8 million to award competitive grants to state agricultural fairs for access and safety improvement projects.

The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end Sunday.