Brief Summary of Bill

Authorizes $3.98 billion in new capital projects for the 2017-19 fiscal biennium; of this total, $2.53 billion is financed with state general obligation bonds.
Includes $171 million in authorizations for agencies and institutions of higher education to enter into alternative financing contracts.
Adjusts the 2015-17 Capital Budget by a net decrease of $870,000.

Background: The programs and agencies of state government are funded on a two-year basis, with each fiscal biennium beginning on July 1st of odd-numbered years. The Capital Budget generally includes appropriations for the acquisition, construction, and repair of capital assets such as land, buildings, and other infrastructure improvements. Funding for the Capital Budget is primarily from state general obligation bonds, with other funding derived from various dedicated taxes, fees, and state trust land revenues.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): The Omnibus 2017-19 Capital Budget authorizes new capital projects for state agencies and institutions of higher education for the 2017-19 fiscal biennium. The bill makes adjustments to the 2015-17 Capital Budget.

For the 2017-19 biennium, a total of $3.98 billion is appropriated; $2.53 billion is appropriated from the proceeds of state general obligation bonds. The 2015-17 Capital budget is adjusted; there is a net decrease of $870,000. The budget authorizes state agencies and institutions of higher education to enter into alternative financing contracts for a total of $171 million.

Budget summary materials are available online at www.fiscal.wa.gov under the Budget Bills & Documents header.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Kate White Tudor, Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers; Lorrell Noahr, Washington Education Association; Joe Dacca, University of Washington; Jim Kowalkowski, Davenport School District & Rural Ed. Center; Melissa Johnson, Washington State Association of Headstart & ECEAP; Doug Levy, WA Recreation & Park Association; several cities; Lisa Thatcher, Port of Tacoma; Elissa Goss, Executive Director, Washington Student Association; Andrea McNamara Doyle, Executive Director, Washington Wildlife Recreation Coalition; Adrian Miller, Pope Resources; Chris Mulick, Washington State University, Director of State Relations; Jessica Vavrus, WA State School Directors' Association; Steve DuPont, Central Washington University; Joyce Loveday, Clover Park Technical College; Bonnie Brunt, Spokane Falls Community College; Shouan Pan, North Seattle College; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Educational Associations; Gary Rowe, Washington State Association of Counties; Colleen Rust, The Evergreen State College; David Buri, Eastern Washington University; Jim Hedrick, Greater Spokane Incorporated; Casey Moore, OSPI Dir of School Facilities; Carl Schroeder, Association of Washington Cities; Charlie Brown, Franklin Pierce School District.

OTHER: Seth Dawson, Common Ground for Children & Families; Michele Thomas, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Connie Brown, Tacoma Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium; Rochelle Moore, Plymouth Housing Group; Liz Mills, YWCA Seattle, King, Snohomish; Merrit Mount, Washington State Community Action Partnership; Michael Moran, EWUAA; Michael Moran, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; Josephine Tamayo Murray, Catholic Community Services; Hank Adams, Survival of the American Indian Association; Rob VanTassell, CHS Housing and Community Development; David Foster, Building for the Arts; Jill Barnes, WA Center for the Performing Arts; Don Collins, NW Choirs; Chad Haight, Admiral Theatre; Becca Kenna-Schenk, Western Washington University; Tom Bugert, The Nature Conservancy; Erin Dziedzic, Food Lifeline; Ashley Haugen, El Centro de la Raza; Heidi Cerniwey, Heritage Capital Projects; Jeff Bauknecht, Heritage Capital Projects; Eric Johnson, WA Public Ports Association; Amber Carter, Client: Port of Vancouver; Jeff Parsons , Puget Sound Partnership.