State's final capital budget includes $421M for local districts

Apr. 24—The Washington state Legislature wrapped up its session Sunday, approving a nearly $9 billion 2023-2025 capital budget for construction and infrastructure projects across the state, including $421 million in allocations among the 19th and 24 legislative districts.

That's about $106 million more than was proposed for those two districts in the Senate's capital budget in March, and about $20 million more than was later proposed by the House. First released on Friday, the final budget was a compromise between those two houses, and will now be sent to Gov. Jay Inslee's desk for approval before the state's new fiscal year begins July 1.

Key flood protection and climate-change-related projects in Grays Harbor County — including $18.5 million for the Aberdeen and Hoquiam North Shore Levee project and almost $12 million devoted to relocation of Quinault Indian Nation villages — maintained funding as legislators hashed out the budget's final details.

The budget includes $70 million in funding for the Chehalis Basin Strategy for projects across the basin. Local schools, parks and community buildings also received smaller amounts.

Steve Tharinger, a representative from the Olympic Peninsula's 24th legislative district who also chairs the House Capital Budget committee, addressed the budget in a Friday press release from the Washington House and Senate democrats.

"This biennial budget addresses some of the more challenging needs in our communities around affordable housing, behavioral health and health care facilities," Tharinger said. "Funds are provided for construction in both K-12 and higher education. It also makes investments in ecosystem resiliency and restoration while working on carbon reduction, focusing on overburdened communities."

The Port of Grays Harbor's Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment project will get a $3.5 million boost, a small portion of the $46 million cost of the project, which is expected to double the port's export cargo capacity.

A little more than $6 million capital budget funding will go toward a roof replacement for the Stafford Creek Corrections Center. Another facility looking to replace its roof — the Aberdeen Senior Center — will get about $160,000 toward its effort to do so.

The final budget includes money for improvements to state parks on the Twin Harbors. Lake Sylvia north of Montesano will see a $2.9 million culvert replacement, while the Willapa Hills trail near Raymond will receive nearly as much for trail resurfacing. According to that project's funding request, the plan is to install 17 miles of compacted gravel on two sections of the 56-mile route.

Two other culvert removal projects in Grays Harbor County received a combined $1.3 million in funding. Construction for the removals, which both ranked as high priorities on the state's Fish Barrier Removal Board's project list, will take place next summer.

Other capital budget funding in the Montesano area includes $1.6 million for a Montesano Community Forest land acquisition, $700,000 for "Montesano economic development," and $225,000 for repairs to the Grays Harbor County Courthouse.

Grays Harbor College is the benefactor of more than $5 million in construction projects classified as "minor works," $2 million of which is for an "infrastructure replacement." Raymond School District will also receive $5 million for improvements to the high school and athletic fields.

A handful of school districts in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties also received small district planning grants ranging in amounts from $20,000 to $40,000.

In South Bend, the city was allocated a quarter-million dollars for improvements to the library, while the South Bend School District will get $300,000 toward an Early Learning Facility.

Several historic Grays Harbor buildings — the Polson Museum, the 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam and the McCleary Museum — will also see grants ranging from $75,000 to $200,000.

The budget also includes $187,000 for the SeaMar Community Health Clinic in Elma.

Contact reporter Clayton Franke at 406-552-3917 or clayton.franke@thedailyworld.com.