The Senate has released its $3.3 billion two year capital budget. It's $700 million less than the governor's proposal in December, and about $1.3 billion (29 percent) less than the last two-year budget.

-K-12 construction assistance programs would be fully funded,

-Higher ed would get just over $1 billion for projects. Every major school would get a major project.

-$734 million would be transferred to the operating budget.

-McNeil Island prison would be closed.

-New school district skills centers wouldn't be funded.

-the Heritage Center, a new home for the state archives and the state library and visitors' center for the capitol, would be 'put on hold" until the state can figure out a way "to make sure the center can be self-sustaining...the fees that would have funded this project have plummeted along with the economy."

-Univ of WA would get $199 million, including a certificate of participation to build a molecular engineering building: $53 million.

-Washington State University would get $116 million, and a certificate of participation to build infrastructure for the Global Animal Health Building ($10 million). Also: $95 million for the biomedical sciences facility.

Local stuff: includes $400k for the Emmanuel Family Life Center, $79K for a community building for SNAP, $3.5 million for a central Spokane YMCA/YWCA.

 

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