Capital budget includes $67.8 million for 24^th District

Olympia, WA - 3/18/05 - The state House of Representatives Monday approved a capital budget for the next biennium which includes $67.8 million for projects and facilities in the 24^th District. Rep. Jim Buck supported the spending plan, which cleared the House 92-5 as the Legislature headed into the final week of the scheduled 105-day session.

The capital budget, which is handled separately from the main operating budget and the transportation budget, covers costs for construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, colleges and universities, parks and green space, and acquisition of threatened lands.

“This construction budget sounds a positive note in the session’s otherwise grim budget situation,” said Buck, R-Joyce. “The package provides funding that will have a direct, positive impact on higher education facilities, parks and recreation areas, and other capital facilities, as well as giving a lift to the economy.”

Buck was pleased that the budget includes $22.4 million to replace the Science and Technology Building at Peninsula College. Additional appropriations are provided for library renovation at the college ($14 million), and $250,000 for the Cultural and Arts Center.

The North Peninsula area also will be the recipient of significant construction activity with renovations at the Clallam Bay Corrections Center totaling $8.4 million.

Among the other in-district projects that would receive support in the budget are:
· $6.6 million – Fort Worden Park
· $400,000 – Fort Flagler hospital rehabilitation
· $475,000 – Sequim Bay Park sewer system upgrade
· $755,000 – Sequim water diversion screening projects
· $350,000 – Hoko River Park (Cowan house & barn stabilization)
· $1.7 million – Dungeness gravity intake projects
· $850,000 – Elwha hatchery projects
· $810,000 – Sol Duc hatchery projects
· $115,000 – West Satsop boat launch restoration
· $345,000 – NW Marine Center (Washington State Historical Society)
“Many communities in the state are still struggling, and the investments contained in this capital construction plan will be a welcome boost to our efforts to generate new employment opportunities,” Buck added.

House and Senate conferees will now begin the work of negotiating a final package.