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State capital and
transportation budgets make important investments in 2nd District
McCune works to secure funding for local projects
The 2nd District will
benefit from new projects added to the recently-passed state
supplemental capital and transportation budgets. Rep. Jim McCune,
R-Graham, worked to secure funding for the projects and voted “yes”
on both budgets.
The 2007-09 state capital and transportation budgets are two-year plans
that pass in odd-numbered years, such as 2007, and are adjusted a year
later. They did not require new tax increases.
The capital budget provides funding for the construction and repair of
public buildings and for other long-term investments, such as land
acquisitions and transfers.
The supplemental capital budget included $1.4 million for three new
projects in the 2nd District: a Youth Housing and Drop-In Center
($300,000); Eatonville Community Pool access addition ($350,000); and
Pierce County Orting Valley Farms ($750,000).
“The Eatonville Community Pool project is very important locally –
especially for seniors,” said McCune. “The new addition will
build a hydro-therapy pool, and this will enhance the quality
of life for some of our local seniors.”
The 2007-09 capital budget now includes $9.1 million for 14 projects in
the 2nd District.
The supplemental capital
budget also included $3.1 million in funding for a new Pierce County Skills Center.
“The Pierce County Skills
Center promises to assist many students in our communities,” said
McCune. “It was important that the supplemental capital budget fully
funded the pre-design and design of this project. People at the local
level have worked hard for us to get to this point, and I'm glad I could
play a role at the state level to help see the project through.”
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) requested
capital budget appropriations for several of the state’s skills centers.
The skills centers are regional, cooperative public schools that provide
comprehensive, industry-defined, technical education for high school
students who may participate in Running Start or apprenticeship
programs.
Eight Pierce County school districts conducted a study and established
the feasibility for building a skills center. The consortium believes
both the population growth and diverse employment base in Pierce County
will cause greater demand for career and technical education (CTE)
offerings in the county’s high schools. The purpose of the skills center
will be to provide high-skill, high-demand job training as part of
students’ high school experience.
The transportation budget approves money for state roadways, bridges,
ferries, transit, and other transportation projects.
The supplemental transportation budget included $600,000 for a new
signal on State Route 7 – at Mountain Highway and 304th. It also
continues funding commitments to the State Route 704 Cross Base Highway
($43 million) and State Route 510 Yelm Loop ($36 million).
The 2007-09 transportation budget now includes over $253 million for 28
projects in the 2nd District.
“Our state transportation budget continues to make important investments
in our local transportation infrastructure and that is why I supported
it,” said McCune. “The Second District is receiving 253 million
dollars for projects in this budget and this is very important for
the future of our communities.”
Both supplemental budgets are now headed to the governor’s desk where
they will be signed into law.
The 2008 legislative session ended today.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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