News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 18, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Capital budget puts focus on education

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today signed a $2 billion capital budget for the 1999-01 biennium that builds new public schools, provides greater access to higher education, makes communities safer and protects the environment.

"Last week, I signed an operating budget for Washington that makes the largest investment in education in state history," Locke said. "Today, I'm signing a capital budget that backs up that commitment. Providing our students a high-quality education will require good teachers and a strong curriculum. They also must have the classrooms and other facilities they will need to learn in the 21st century."

More than half of the new bond appropriations in the capital budget goes to public schools, state colleges and universities. It invests $930 million in new education facilities, including $315 million for K-12 school construction.

The capital budget also finishes projects that already have begun, including $398 million to complete current higher education projects and $114 million to complete current public school projects.

In addition to construction for education, the capital budget provides housing for farm workers, and homeless children and families.

It completes the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, bringing that facility to its planned capacity of more than 1,900 beds. And it builds a new unit at Western State Hospital for those committed to the institution during criminal proceedings.

The capital budget also provides funding for the Cheney Cowles Museum in Spokane, along with numerous projects to support the arts and preserve Washington's heritage.

Locke vetoed a section of the budget providing $112 million for salmon recovery projects, but noted that funding would be restored in a separate bill once the Legislature comes to agreement in its current special session on legislation to allocate the funds and establish a panel to administer the program.

Highlights of the capital budget include:

K-12

Fully funded K-12 school construction with a $315 million new appropriation.

Higher Ed

- $50 million for the next phase of the UW Bothell Branch Campus, in conjunction with $50.1 million to establish the new Cascadia

Community College.
- $36.4 million for the next phase of the UW Tacoma Branch Campus.
- $39.3 million for Suzzallo Library renovation at UW.
- $44.8 million for UW's new Law School Building.
- $27 million for WSU Vancouver Engineering/Life Science Building.
- $28.9 million for WSU Teaching and Learning Center.
- $36.3 million for WSU Spokane Health Sciences Building.
- $18.9 million for the Cheney Cowles Museum in Spokane.

Arts

- $5.6 million for various arts-related construction projects.
- $4 million for various Washington heritage related projects.

Housing

- $5 million for homeless families with children.
- $8 million for farm worker housing.

Health

- $5 million to consolidate the Public Health Lab facilities.

Corrections

- $22.5 million for completion of the Stafford Creek Corrections Center to its full capacity of 1,936 beds.
- $44 million for a legal offender unit at Western State Hospital.

Environment

- $48 million to acquire critical wildlife and recreation properties.


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