Title: An act relating to the capital budget.

Brief Description: Making appropriations and authorizing expenditures for capital improvements.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Fraser and Hewitt; by request of Governor Gregoire).

Brief History:

Capital Budget: 4/13/05 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Dunshee, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Ranking Minority Member; Hankins, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chase, Cox, DeBolt, Eickmeyer, Ericks, Flannigan, Green, Hasegawa, Kretz, Lantz, McCune, Moeller, Morrell, Newhouse, O'Brien, Roach, Schual-Berke, Serben, Springer, Strow and Upthegrove.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Ericksen, Holmquist and Kristiansen.

Staff: Susan Howson (786-7142).

Background:

The programs and agencies of state government are funded on a two-year basis, with each biennium beginning on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. The Capital Budget includes appropriations for the acquisition, construction and repair of capital assets such as state office buildings, prisons, juvenile rehabilitation centers, residential habilitation centers, mental health facilities, public health facilities, military readiness centers, and higher education facilities. The Capital Budget funds a variety of environmental and natural resource projects, parks and recreational facilities, grants for public K-12 school construction, and has a number of grant and loan programs that support housing, public infrastructure, community service facilities, and art and historical projects.

The sources of funding for the Capital Budget primarily are state general obligation bonds, trust revenues, and dedicated fees and taxes.

Summary of Amended Bill:

The 2005-07 Capital Budget authorizes $3.09 billion in new capital projects, of which $1.43 billion are financed with new state general obligation bonds. Reappropriations of $1.96 billion are authorized for uncompleted projects approved in prior biennia. State agencies are also authorized to enter into a variety of alternative financing contracts.

The 2005 Supplemental Capital Budget makes technical corrections to the 2003-05 Capital Budget and authorizes $206.5 million in new appropriations, of which $17.45 million are financed with new state general obligation bonds.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The Engrossed Substitute bill as amended makes numerous changes to the Senate's proposed Capital Budget.

Appropriation: The sum of $3.3 billion in new appropriations and $1.96 billion in reappropriations.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Mitch Denning, Alliance of Educational Association; Tom Kuehn, Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators; Bill Lahmann, Olympia School District; Brian Talbott, White Pass School District; Bill Mester, Snohomish School District; Tom Henderson, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Seth Dawson, Washington State Coalition of Children's Residential Services; Mary Kentiela, Washington State Parent Teacher Association; Rainier Hauser, Association of Washington State Principals; Mike Ryherd, Washington Wildlife Recreation Coalition; Charon Wylie, Clark County; Tom Davis, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Carolyn Tolas, State Board of Education; Bill Panos, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Charlie Brown, King and Pierce County School Coalitions; Paul Parker, Washington State Association of Counties; Brinton Sprauge, Cascadia Community College; Kathleen Lopp, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; Dawn Vyman, Yakama Nation; and Sandy Guinn and Dave Zobell, City of Bothell.

(In support with concerns) John Aultman, New Market Skills Center; Gerry Ringwood, Tri Tech Skills Center; Larry Johnson, Lutheran Community Services Northwest; Boots Winterstien, Lutheran Community Services Northwest; Terry Teale, Council of Presidents; David Webster, Northwest Youth Services; Lane Rawlins, Washington State University; Michael Salvador, Washington State University Council of Faculty Representatives; Eric Johnson, Washington Public Ports Association; Dan Coyne, Kamilche Company; Lynn Maier, Washington Public Employees Association; Shane Hamlin, Secretary of State; and Rick Slunaker, Associated General Contractors.

(Opposed) Vicki Austin, Vashon Community Care Center; Greg Hanon, Western States Petroleum Association; and Bob Conrad, Black Hills Community Soccer Complex.