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Preliminary capital budget includes millions for
14th District
Skinner, Ross say they'll work to make sure local
projects stay on list
A statewide $4.23 billion
capital construction budget unveiled Monday contains more than $32.3 million
in projects for the 14th Legislative District,
Rep. Mary Skinner
and Rep. Charles Ross
announced today.
"We made the requests for
our local appropriations early in the process and we're very pleased
that most of them came through in the preliminary capital budget," said
Skinner, a member of the Capital Budget Committee. "Now that the entire
list is public, the challenge will be to keep these requests in the
budget until it becomes final."
"A lot of communities
look to the state for assistance, so the competition for funding can be
serious," said Ross,
R-Naches. "But we're off to a strong start."
The largest share of
funding in the 14th District ($16.4 million) would go for the design and
construction of the Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center.
"The skills center would
be an important addition to our community, helping young people to be
trained for a vocation and providing them the skills to move forward to
a voc-tech college or immediately into the workforce," said Skinner,
R-Yakima. "We've also provided more than $7.5 million for various
projects at Yakima Valley Community College, including improvements to
the Brown Dental Hygiene Building."
Ross also pointed out an
appropriation of more than $2.6 million for infrastructure improvements
in the town of Tieton.
"Coming from a small
town myself, I understand how difficult it would be for Tieton to pay
for this on its own," said Ross, who is former mayor of Naches. "It's
exactly the kind of project that deserves a place in the capital budget."
The 14th District team
also noted funding for phase three of the Yakima Downtown Futures
Project ($1.5 million), $433,000 for the Yakima Bears' ballfield, and
$500,000 for redevelopment of the Upper Kiwanis Park.
"This is a great
bricks-and-mortar budget that will provide important infrastructure,
parks, and buildings for education in our local communities," added
Skinner. "It's a wonderful investment in our future."
"We know these as
local assets, but they're available for the enjoyment of all," said Ross.
"Representative Skinner and I will continue working to preserve
their place on the funding list."
The measure will be
considered Friday by the House Capital Budget Committee. It is expected to be considered by
the full House next Monday, March 26.
14th
Legislative District Projects - Capital Construction Budget
Department of Community, Trade,
and Economic Development
Perry Technical Institute Hangar (LCP) $250,000
City of Yakima Minor League Baseball (LCP) $433,000
Yakima Downtown Futures Initiative Phase 3 (LCP) $1,500,000
Infrastructure Assistance - City of Tieton $2,627,000
Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation
Upper Kiwanis Park Redevelopment/Phase 1 (WWRP - Local Parks) $500,000
William O. Douglas Trail Connections (WWRP - Trails) $796,883
Cowiche/Tieton Watershed Phase 3 (WWRP - Critical Habitat) $1,688,720
Oak Flats (WWRP - Riparian Protection) $645,867
Washington State Historical Society
Central Washington Fair Association (Heritage) $48,000
Public Schools
Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center $16,366,000
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Yakima Valley Community College: Brown Dental Hygiene Building $5,675,000
Yakima Valley Community College (Facility Preservation) $815,695
Yakima Valley Community College (Infrastructure) $56,904
Yakima Valley Community College (Minor Works Program) $654,100
Yakima Valley Community College (Minor Works Preservation) $312,600
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For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
Eric Campbell, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7720
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