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Ranking
Republican says bond measure is not the way to pay for school
improvements
The Capital Budget
Committee today approved
House Bill 2334, a school bond proposal that may be sent to the
voters this fall.
Rep. Judy Warnick,
ranking Republican on the committee, opposed the measure, which she says
is risky and has not been thoroughly analyzed.
The bill would ask voters to approve a $3 billion bond to pay for school
and public facility improvements. It is estimated that $210 million in
debt would have to be paid each year on the bond. It would require that
half of the funding to schools be repaid from energy savings or other
means for the debt. A funding source for the remainder of the debt to be
paid off has yet to be named.
"Clearly there is a serious need for making improvements around our
state on school buildings. However, there are so many unanswered
questions and concerns with this legislation that it is just not ready
to be pushed through the process," said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. "Over and
over we heard support for improving our classrooms and public
facilities, but I didn't hear one good argument as to why putting the
state into further debt and risking our bond rating was the best way to
do that."
Warnick said she was uncomfortable with the shifting of tax dollars
within state funds and the lack of prioritization.
"We're going to be taking $780 million from the capital budget to
backfill the operating budget, and yet we're hearing of this dire need
for maintenance on our public buildings," Warnick said. "This should be
taken care of within our means."
Another
concern Warnick has is that local districts and governments may not be
able to pass their own levies and bonds if voters think this bond
measure would cover every need.
"I'm not fearful of a new or innovative idea to pay for the state's
needs, but we already have the means in this capital budget and plan to
give them away," Warnick said. "I cannot support something that asks
more from taxpayers when they have already given so much."
The measure was passed out of committee on a party line 9-6 vote. It now
goes to the House Rules Committee to be considered for the House floor
calendar.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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