$19 Billion Budget Gets Locke’s Ok

To nobody’s surprise, Gov. Gary Locke signed virtually all of a $19 billion operating budget on Tuesday, along with several billion dollars in spending for transportation and for brick-and-mortar projects.

Locke OK’d the two-year operating budget, along with a $3.15 billion roads budget and a $1.884 billion public works construction plan. All three budgets are for the 1997-99 budget cycle, beginning July 1.

Among highlights of the public works budget was $824.1 million to build public schools and higher education facilities, and $126.7 million for branch campus facilities.