Abbarno helps include millions of dollars in local projects within House capital budget proposal

Nearly $138 million for local projects in the 20th Legislative District have been included in the proposed $5.68 billion House capital budget, says Rep. Peter Abbarno, who serves as assistant ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee.

The 2021-23 House capital budget spending plan was released late Wednesday afternoon.

The state capital budget, also known as the “construction budget,” appropriates money for statewide construction and repair of public buildings, and for other investments, such as land acquisitions and transfers, infrastructure, broadband, parks, and cultural and heritage facilities. The projects and funding must be approved by both the House and Senate, and the governor.

Abbarno, R-Centralia, says the proposal, contained in House Bill 1080, includes $3.55 billion financed with general obligation bonds. In addition, another $2.14 billion is comprised of $589 million in federal stimulus funds, $273 million in Model Toxic Control Account funds, $236 million in alternative financing authorization, and $1.04 billion in other funds.

Some general categories for statewide spending include:

  • $175 million in the Housing Trust Fund, a competitive grant program that funds the construction and renovation of affordable housing;
  • $96.8 million for community-based behavioral health beds;
  • $155 million for broadband in the form of grants and loans to improve and expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the state;
  • $103.6 million for clean energy, energy efficiency, weatherization, and rehabilitation;
  • $48.5 million for early learning grants;
  • $969.9 million for K-12 education;
  • $978.7 million for higher education; and
  • $120.9 million for flood risk reduction and habitat restoration.

“The capital budget is an important tool for investing in local communities to create economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for our citizens,” said Abbarno. “Our local taxpayers send a lot of their money to Olympia. The capital construction budget is a great way to bring some of this money back home to provide jobs and important infrastructure to our district.”

Within the House proposal, the 20th Legislative District could receive a wide range of projects, including:

  • $300,000 for the Lewis County Seniors (Centralia) from the Building Communities Grant Fund;
  • $21,000 for Reliable Enterprises (Centralia) from the Building Communities Grant Fund;
  • $14,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Lewis County (Chehalis) from the Youth Recreational Facilities Grant Program;
  • $515,000 for the Lake Lawrence Fire Station in Yelm;
  • $259,000 for Mayme Shaddock Park in Napavine;
  • $283,000 for Werden Park in Vader;
  • $129,000 for the Lewis County public safety radio infrastructure in Chehalis;
  • $824,000 for the Lewis County Youth Services renovation and addition in Chehalis;
  • $1.750 for the Southwest Washington Grain Project in Chehalis;
  • $1.850 for the Vader Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements;
  • $3.55 million for the Lewis County PUD for a substation and transmission facility in Winlock;
  • $70 million for the Office of Chehalis Basin;
  • $1.529 million to the Centralia School District for the Gemini and LTE;
  • $8.05 for the Packwood sewer system;
  • $2.55 million for a hydrogen fueling station in Chehalis:
  • $2.03 million for the Willapa Hills Trail Bridge (Adna, 19th and 20th Legislative Districts);
  • $2.250 for a pedestrian overcrossing replacement in Kalama;
  • $2 million for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library in Woodland;
  • $1.03 million for the Woodland Community Library;
  • $123,000 for the Chehalis-Centralia locomotive repair (Chehalis); and
  • $52,000 for the Seminary Hill Natural and Heritage Trail Project in Centralia.

The measure still must receive approval in both the House and Senate. While the final version may look different from the original proposal, Abbarno is hopeful many of the local projects will remain in the final bill.

“I am proud to serve on the Capital Budget Committee and work to include these projects in the House version of the budget,” said Abbarno. “I will continue working to keep them in the budget throughout the process.”

A public hearing will be held on the budget proposal, Monday, March 29 at 10 a.m. in the House Capital Budget Committee, and is scheduled for a vote on the House floor on Friday, April 2.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov