Strong economic investment for 20th District residents in Rep. Abbarno’s first capital construction budget

With only one day remaining of the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers on Saturday unanimously approved a new two-year, $6.3 billion capital budget that includes $161.1 million for projects throughout the 20th District.

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, serves as assistant ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee, and helped to negotiate the bipartisan-approved spending plan, including the 20th District projects.

“I'm proud of this budget, the input and work from both sides of the aisle and both chambers to create a plan that will help our communities and working families throughout the state. I've complained about the lack of collaboration on legislation in other areas, but not with the capital budget,” said Abbarno. “This process is about give and take, communication and collaboration, and really getting to a point in which you understand personal, district and geographic differences, and similarities.”

The final version of the 2021-23 capital budget is partially funded through $3.9 billion from the sale of general obligation bonds. It allocates funding for critical infrastructure improvements, including schools, public buildings, low-income housing, water infrastructure, state parks, and several others projects.

“I am proud of our statewide work helping stimulate the economy, getting people back to work, addressing critical needs, and improving the quality of life for Washingtonians. This is a grassroots construction budget, because so many projects are what community members locally have identified as needs and solutions. This budget helps them with that,” added Abbarno.

“We know we need housing. And we know many areas want more shelters. This budget addresses those needs. But it also recognizes that we need to begin moving towards home ownership and stability, and infrastructure investments at the local levels to create housing inventory and jobs,” noted Abbarno.

“I wish every bill was a lovefest like it is today for the capital budget,” said Abbarno, referencing the unanimous support. “The truth is we need each other to pass a capital budget with a supermajority, so it is truly a bipartisan collaboration. We as a Legislature can learn about working better across the aisle from the capital budget process.”

Highlights of the 2021-23 capital budget, House Bill 1080, include:

  • $730.6 million for the K-12 School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP);
  • $200.7 million to begin construction of the behavioral health teaching hospital run by the University of Washington;
  • $95 million in Behavioral Health Capacity grants for community mental health services;
  • $74 million to increase capacity and service for civil and forensic patients at Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital, and state-run community settings;
  • $51 million to design a new, 350-bed forensic hospital on the Western State Hospital campus;
  • $733 million, including $558.5 million in bonds, for the state's four-year institutions;
  • $129 million for the Public Works Board for grants and loans to local governments for infrastructure projects;
  • $326 million to the State Broadband Office for broadband infrastructure projects, including $50 million in bonds to leverage other federal funding;
  • $175 million for the Housing Trust Fund for low-income housing options;
  • $160 million for local and community projects statewide;
  • $72.6 million to the State Parks and Recreation Commission for improvements to state parks statewide, including the new state park in Nisqually;
  • $42 million for the Yakima River Basin; and
  • $45 million for the Office of Columbia River.

Projects funded for the 20th District in the approved capital budget plan include:

  • $400,000 for the Lewis County Courthouse;
  • $36.9 million for replacement and remodel of buildings and improvements at Green Hill School;
  • $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;
  • $2.55 million for a hydrogen fueling station in Chehalis:
  • $3.55 million for the Lewis County PUD for a substation and transmission facility in Winlock;
  • $2 million for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library in Woodland;
  • $14,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Lewis County (Chehalis) from the Youth Recreational Facilities Grant Program;
  • $123,000 for the Chehalis-Centralia locomotive repair (Chehalis);
  • $515,000 for the Lake Lawrence Fire Station in Yelm;
  • $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;
  • $2.25 million for a pedestrian overcrossing replacement in Kalama;
  • $52,000 for the Seminary Hill Natural and Heritage Trail Project in Centralia;
  • $1.75 million for the Southwest Washington Grain Project in Chehalis;
  • $600,000 for the Woodland Scott Hill Park and Sports Complex in Woodland;
  • $1.529 million to the Centralia School District for the Gemini and LTE;
  • $8.05 million for the Packwood sewer system;
  • $1.85 million for the Vader Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements;
  • $3.4 million for a teacher education and family development center, and other improvements at Centralia College;
  • $70 million for the Office of Chehalis Basin for projects to reduce flood damage and restore fish habitat.
  • $2 million for cleanup at American Crossarm and Hamilton Labree Road;
  • $300,000 for a new fish hatchery on the Cowlitz River;
  • $239,000 for a fish collection facility on the Toutle River;
  • $150,000 for fish replacement passage and Reese Creek Bridge maintenance;
  • $200,000 for modernization of schools in Morton, Northport, Pe Ell and Toledo;
  • $3.6 million for removal of fish barriers on Mason Creek, Ostrander Creek, and Newaukum River;
  • $1.48 million for restoration of the Washington coastline;
  • $259,000 for Mayme Shaddock Park in Napavine;
  • $283,000 for Werden Park in Vader;
  • $5 million for behavioral health expansion for Columbia Cottage at Maple Lane School, Rochester; and
  • $15.1 million for a state-operated community civil 16-bed capacity behavioral health center.

“This budget is about larger economic development projects as well as smaller quality of life projects,” added Abbarno. “This morning, I drove by the Seminary Hill Nature Area, where my children and I go hiking. It's a place where tourists come, recharge, connect with nature, and then they visit our historic downtown, where they shop and eat and support our local economy. The Friends of Seminary Hill citizen group caring for this beautiful, natural area, has been discussing the need to make it more accessible for wheelchairs and those who have difficulty walking up hills. I am proud to help by providing the funding in this budget to make more inclusive and accessible paths to make this beautiful area more enjoyable for everyone. This is one example of the many worthwhile investments provided in the capital budget, which will help build the foundation for successful communities across our state of Washington.”

The measure, House Bill 1080, now goes to the governor for his consideration.

For a full list of all statewide projects, go to: http://fiscal.wa.gov/CapitalProjectListDistrictBien.aspx

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov