The Senate capital budget proposal passed the Washington State Senate today on a unanimous vote.
The $7.9 billion budget makes historic investments in affordable housing, behavioral health, environmental protection, school construction, and public safety.
“I’m encouraged by the strong support for this budget,” said Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah), vice chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, who is the prime sponsor and lead negotiator for the budget. “This is a historic budget that makes investments across Washington in all the issues that folks are concerned about. I’m particularly excited about the record-setting investments we’re making in affordable housing in this proposal, and I look forward to working with the House to pass a strong capital budget this year.”
A full list of projects and programs funded is available on fiscal.wa.gov.
Highlights include a record-setting $400 million for the Housing Trust Fund, part of a total of $625 million for housing investments. The budget also includes $650 million for a new forensic hospital at Western State, a historic $120 million for the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program, regional training centers for law enforcement across Washington, $100 million for school construction in small rural and tribal districts, $1.2 billion for higher education projects, and much more.
The House is expected to release its capital budget proposal early next week — the two budgets will negotiate to a final agreement to be passed by both chambers before the end of session on Sunday, April 23.
