Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, is applauding the new two-year state capital budget approved by the Legislature this weekend, for funding many projects in the 14th Legislative District.
“I am happy that the final version of the state capital budget includes money for many projects found in our district,” said King, R-Yakima. “These projects will help our district for years to come.”
The $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.
After the House of Representatives voted 96-0 to pass the final version of the capital budget (Senate Bill 5200) on Friday, the Senate approved it 48-0 yesterday. It now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for consideration.
King said he and his legislative seatmates, Reps. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, and Chris Corry, R-Yakima, sat down at the start of the legislative session to discuss the district’s needs.
“We divided up the requests received from groups or individuals in our district and submitted them to the capital-budget leaders in a way that avoided overlap,” explained King. “We did this to maximize our leverage in getting the projects we wanted in the final version of this budget. I’m glad this coordinated approach worked well.”
The two-year capital budget includes $11.75 million for the substance use-disorder and mental health-inpatient treatment center in Yakima, as well as $2.5 million for the SHC Medical Center at Astria Toppenish Hospital in Toppenish.
The capital budget provides $20 million for the Yakama Nation Solar Project, as well as $10.575 million for remediation and cleanup for the Yakima City Landfill.
Several school districts receive funding from the budget, including:
- Yakama Tribal School District 2 ($3.298 million)
- Yakama Tribal School District 1 ($1.55 million)
- Trout Lake School District ($2.666 million)
- Toppenish School District ($1.08 million)
- Mabton School District ($580,000 for two projects)
- Wishram School District ($35,000)
The capital budget funds several local and community projects, such as:
- City of Selah’s wastewater treatment plan improvements ($1.442 million)
- Yakima County Meals on Wheels in Union Gap ($1 million)
- Goldendale Municipal Airport land acquisition ($361,000)
- High Prairie Fire District 14 emergency preparedness in Lyle ($248,000)
- Yakima County Fire Emergency Responder Radio System in Yakima ($139,000)
- Bringing It Home II 24-hour domestic violence shelter in Yakima ($125,000)
- Yakima County Fire District 12 wildfire response in Yakima ($38,000)
The Excel Youth Center in Yakima will receive $1.054 million for its project.
Another Yakima project funded by the capital budget is for the MLK Jr. Park and Swimming Pool, which will receive $1.16 million. The pool is located in the 13th District.
The capital budget also provides money from the Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program for the Yakima County Courthouse ($815,000) in Yakima and the Klickitat County Courthouse ($585,000) in Goldendale.
The budget also provides money through the Washington Wildlife Recreation Program for several 14th District projects, including:
- Klickitat Oaks Phase 1 ($4.329 million)
- Davenport Cattle Agricultural Easement ($3.492 million)
- Little Klickitat River Century Farm ($1.605 million)
- Swale Creek Klickitat Trail ($1.323 million)
- Trout Lake Natural Area Preserve ($870,000)
- Emerick Rangeland Preservation ($840,000)
- Klickitat Canyon Deer Creek Wetland Restoration ($111,000)
The 105-day legislative session is scheduled to end tonight.