Brief Description: Increasing non-construction loan limits for projects using financing through the public works board.

Sponsors: Representatives Hunt, Newhouse, Fromhold, Armstrong, Dunshee, McDonald and Morrell; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and Public Works Board.

Hearing Date: 1/25/07

Staff: Nona Snell (786-7153).

Background:

The Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA), commonly known as 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 (Board), within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED), 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 source of the loans is the PWAA, which 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. Appropriations from the account are made in the Capital Budget, but the project list for construction loans is submitted annually in separate legislation.

The Board also makes loans, not subject to Legislative approval, for pre-construction, emergency, and capital facility planning purposes.

Pre-Construction Loan Program
In 1995, the Legislature authorized the Board to make low-interest loans to local governments for pre-construction activities on public works projects. The following types of activities are eligible for funding under the Pre-Construction Loan Program: design and engineering, bid document preparation, environmental studies, and right-of-way acquisition. To date, the Board has approved 189 pre-construction loans, totaling $114.3 million.

Emergency Loan Program
The Emergency Loan Program was approved by the Legislature in 1988, to provide timely financial assistance to local governments for public works emergencies. The Board has defined an emergency as "a public works project made necessary by a natural disaster, or an immediate and emergent threat to the public health or safety due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances." The loans may be used to fund all or part of an emergency public works project, less any reimbursement from federal and state disaster funds, insurance settlements, or litigation. To date, 64 emergency loans, totaling $14.8 million, have been executed.

Public Works Planning Loan Program
The Board requires that each applying jurisdiction have a capital facility plan for all trust fund eligible systems. To help clients meet this requirement, the Board developed the Public Works Planning Loan Program to finance the development of capital facility plans. During the 1993 session, legislation authorized the Board to make these loans available year round, without annual legislative approval. Since 1989, the Public Works Trust Fund has authorized 116 planning loans, totaling $5.5 million.

Summary of Bill:

The Board's loan limit for pre-construction, emergency, and capital facility planning loans is increased from 15 percent to 25 percent of the biennial Capital Budget appropriation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.