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Herrera, Orcutt support local government
infrastructure projects
House approves loan bill providing millions for
Clark, Cowlitz counties
State Reps. Jaime Herrera
and
Ed Orcutt
voted for a measure today that would provide nearly $51 million for
seven important local government infrastructure projects in Clark and
Cowlitz counties.
House
Bill 2437 approves the local government infrastructure projects list
adopted by the Public Works Board. The list includes 52 projects
totaling approximately $278 million in loan requests.
"Southwest Washington
will benefit from these infrastructure investments. They are critical
for healthy development in our communities,” said Herrera, R-Ridgefield.
“I’m pleased to support this legislation."
"These projects are
important updates to our communities' infrastructure systems that
provide services to homeowners and enhanced economic development
opportunities in our region. Not only will these no- and
low-interest loans assist our communities, they will also provide local
jobs," said Orcutt, R-Kalama. "This is taxpayer money being
returned for the benefit of taxpayers in Southwest Washington."
The projects for Clark and Cowlitz counties include:
Clark County
Camas – $10 million for sanitary sewer projects
Clark County – $10 million for improving a major interchange with
two freeways
Clark Regional Wastewater District – $8 million for sanitary
sewer project
La Center – $10 million for sanitary sewer project
Washougal – $3.1 million for sanitary sewer project
Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County Public Utility District No. 1 – $3.2 million for
domestic water project
Three Rivers Regional Wastewater Authority – $6.6 million for
sanitary sewer project
The Public Works Trust Fund was created by the Legislature in 1985 to
provide a source of loan funds to assist local governments and special
purpose districts with infrastructure projects.
The Public Works Board is authorized to make low-interest or
interest-free loans from the account to finance the repair, replacement,
or improvement of the following public works systems: bridges, roads,
water and sewage systems, and solid waste and recycling facilities. All
local governments except port districts and school districts are
eligible to receive loans.
The account receives dedicated revenue from: utility and sales taxes on
water, sewer service, and garbage collection; a portion of the real
estate excise tax; and loan repayments.
The measure, which was
approved unanimously by lawmakers in the House, now goes to the Senate for
further consideration.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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