For the Reporter
The recently-approved capital budget will bring state funding support for local projects.
Passage of a new state capital budget means more community projects for South King County, according to Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, who advocated for the region’s priorities. The state’s $4.2 billion capital budget pays for long-term infrastructure including classrooms, flood prevention efforts, local park improvements and a variety of other community programs.
Additional funding was provided for repairs and upgrades at Green River and Highline colleges as well as $500,000 to support Auburn’s Nexus Youth and Families’ plans for a homeless and behavior health services facility, continuing its mission of providing housing, treatment, counseling and other services to homeless or at-risk youth.
The Auburn Valley YMCA also will receive $763,000 for its campus expansion project.
Statewide, the capital budget totals in at more than $4 billion in projects, with significant education investments, including:
• $1 billion for school construction
• $15.5 million to build Early Learning facilities
• $30 million for rural and distressed K-12 schools
• $800 million for state colleges and universities, with $433 million for community and technical colleges
• $15 million for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) grants at K-12 schools.
Mental health investments include $76 million for community behavioral health, $58 million for construction and renovation of state facilities, and $24 million for supportive housing programs. There is an additional $105 million for housing projects.
The capital budget runs through June 2019 and was approved by the Senate and House of Representative with overwhelming support. Gov. Jay Inslee signed it into law Friday.
