Gov. Gregoire signs bill approving critical infrastructure loans

For Immediate Release: March 7, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed House Bill 2437 in a ceremony in Olympia. The bill approves loans totaling nearly $278 million to 52 Washington communities by the state Public Works Board. The loans will help local governments improve sanitary sewer, solid waste, road and domestic water infrastructure.

This year, 25 of the 52 projects are sewer projects in Puget Sound counties. Nearly $143 million will be invested in these critical projects to safeguard Puget Sound and its marine life.

�The health of our environment must be protected as it goes hand-in-hand with the health of our economy,� Gregoire said. �Investments in public infrastructure, such as these by the Public Works Board, help safeguard the extraordinary quality of life we share in Washington, and lay a strong foundation for businesses to move or expand here.�

�A lot of our towns are now quickly growing cities, and they�re often hurting for appropriate services,� said Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, the bill�s sponsor. �People want to live here and it�s great to have a public works program to help communities with their growing pains.�

�These projects will definitely help with local government and community infrastructure needs,� said Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, the companion bill�s sponsor. �I was especially pleased the Legislature chose to give additional assistance to smaller jurisdictions through a lower interest rate.�

�We want to help communities finance essential infrastructure so they can be successful, sustainable and safe,� said Juli Wilkerson, director of the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

�Significant investment is required to meet the infrastructure needs in our state,� said Dennis Hession, chair of the Public Works Board. �Safe drinking water and sewer systems are part of the basic foundation in any community.�

The Public Works Trust Fund is a revolving loan fund that offers low-interest loans to local governments and special purpose districts for critical public works projects such as bridges, roads, solid waste, domestic water, sanitary sewers and storm sewer systems. The Public Works Board administers the funds. The fund includes receipts from public utility and real estate excise taxes.

Over 23 years, the Public Works Board has funded more than $2.2 billion for infrastructure projects in Washington. This year, the board received record requests from local governments totaling more than $501 million. The nearly $278 million awarded for funding is the largest amount recommended for critical infrastructure projects in the history of the program.

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