Dear friends and neighbors,

In the last week, both the House and Senate have released proposed 2024 supplemental budgets.

Supplemental budgets are passed in even-numbered years and allow the state to make adjustments and enhancements to the main two-year budgets passed in odd-numbered years. While smaller, these budgets still fund vital services and investments to benefit the people of Spokane and all of Washington state.

Capital Budget

The capital budget funds construction projects, including facilities for education, affordable housing, and environmental projects. A summary of the capital budget can be found here. Here are some highlights:

  • $119 million in total housing funding, including $111 million for the Housing Trust Fund to support the construction of affordable housing
  • $121.5 million in total K-12 school construction, maintenance, and improvement funding for school districts across Washington
  • $3.5 million for recovery and rebuilding efforts after the August wildfires in Medical Lake and northern Spokane County
  • Funding for the Northeast Youth and Family Services creativity project, which will work to increase food security, bolster education, and encourage multicultural community engagement for families in Spokane
  • Support for the development of the Terrain Cultural Hub, which will create a center for art, performance, and education in downtown Spokane

 

Operating Budget

The operating budget provides money for state services such as childcare, healthcare, higher education, K-12 schools, and the operation of most state agencies. You can find a summary and more information here. Here are some highlights:

  • $252 million investment to provide additional behavioral health services
  • $242 million in new spending for K-12 schools, including funding for student meals, special education, and staffing needs, like paraeducators
  • $36 million from the opioid settlement agreements to boost treatment for substance use disorder
  • $650,000 grant to the city of Spokane for a feasibility and engineering study to reduce the carbon emissions from the city’s Waste to Energy plant

 

Transportation budget

Whether it is pedestrian safety measures, improved cycling areas, or highway maintenance, the transportation budget moves things along for things that move along. You can find more on this budget here. Here are some highlights:

  • Statewide funding for highway maintenance and preservation to keep our roads safe and accessible
  • Funding maintained for the construction of the North Spokane Corridor and the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit project
  • Funding to support school districts in transitioning to electric school buses
  • Support for increased bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects

Stay in Touch

I always welcome your feedback. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at Andy.Billig@leg.wa.gov.

Onward!

Andy