Dear friends and neighbors,
One of my important roles in the Senate is serving as the lead writer of our state’s capital budget. Of the three budgets – operating, transportation, and capital – the capital budget is how we fund the construction and maintenance of infrastructure and physical projects. This year’s budget proposal includes major funding increases in K-12 school construction, behavioral health facilities, affordable housing, and more, and it creates thousands of jobs through all of those projects.
I’m particularly passionate about the work we’re doing on school construction this year. The state has a major responsibility to do more to help every kid in every school district have a safe, modern building where they can learn and succeed. This is a critical issue to me, and I’m proud of what our budget does for students, teachers, and schools. You can read a bit more about the budget’s statewide impact here.
For us in the 5th district, we have some good investments on the way. We’re going to build security improvements at the Echo Glen Children’s Center, a juvenile detention facility near Snoqualmie that’s been having issues with escapes lately. We’re going to clean up old toxic PFAS chemicals in the ground at Eastside Fire & Rescue facilities. We’ve got some money to help fix up the Cougar Mountain Zoo and build some public message boards the city of Maple Valley asked for. Some of these projects are big and some of them are small, but all of them can have a big impact for the people who live around them.
The House will present its capital budget proposal in the coming days, and we’ll meet with our House counterparts to negotiate and reach agreement on a final version before the end of session. I’m excited about the work to come, and I think we’re going to deliver a capital budget that does a lot of good for the people of Washington.
Town hall reminder!
I want to give you one last reminder about the upcoming town hall event with my seatmates, Reps. Lisa Callan and Bill Ramos!
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17
Tahoma High School Performing Arts Theater
23499 SE Tahoma Way
Maple Valley, WA 98038
It would be great to see you there! This is an important opportunity to hear your questions and feedback on all the issues we’re facing. If you can’t make it, you can always reach me via email at Mark.Mullet@leg.wa.gov. Thanks so much, and I look forward to staying in touch!
Sen. Mark Mullet
