FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6408

PARTIAL VETO

                              C 298 L 90

BYSenators Patterson, Bender, Thorsness, Hansen and Talmadge; by request of Governor

Adopting the supplemental transportation budget.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Rules

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The 1989 Legislature adopted a $2.0 billion budget for the 1989-91 biennium for all transportation agencies.  This was a "no tax" budget.

SUMMARY:

The 1990 transportation supplemental budget adds $159.5 million, bringing the 1989-91 biennium total to $2.2 billion, an increase of 7.9 percent.  This budget assumes passage of the comprehensive 1990 revenue bill.  Major enhancements include:

1) $12.4 million for a new county arterial preservation program;

2) $6.9 million for increased funding for the county rural arterial program;

3) $41.3 million for the Transportation Improvement Board which has been unfunded since it was created in 1988;

4) $.8 million for the Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC) to provide a comprehensive transit study and to continue the fuel pricing study authorized in 1989.  Studies proposed by the Governor on the programming and prioritization process of construction projects and on cost responsibilities will be undertaken by the LTC, and funded by the appropriation to program Z in the Department of Transportation;

5) $50.0 million for the regular Category C program at the Department of Transportation;

6) $5.0 million for special Category C projects including the First Avenue South Bridge, SR 18 between Auburn and I-90, and the North-South corridor in Spokane;

7) $3.1 million for removal of toll booths and preliminary engineering for the Spokane River Bridge and redemption of outstanding bonds;

8) $4.6 million from the new high capacity transit program including $3.4 million for high capacity planning grants, $.2 million for high capacity administration, $.2 million for freight rail administration, $.2 million for Amtrak studies, and $.5 million for the Expert Review Panel;

9) $.3 million for an update to the 1985 port study;

10) $1.7 million for regional transportation planning;

11) $.9 million for completion of passenger only terminal construction and preliminary design work at the Sidney terminal;

12) $8.8 million for passenger only operating funds, continuation of the Sidney terminal lease, completion of the payroll project, and for additional service enhancements;

13) $.2 million for analysis of a State Patrol headquarters facility;

14) $.2 million for initial cost of five-year lease option for new Washington State Patrol plane;

15) $.5 million for completion of the county auditor automation project (CAAP) at the Department of Licensing;

16) $1.9 million reduction of Department of Licensing transportation funds to complete cost accounting study fund shift recommendations;

17) $.4 million for strategic planning for information services at the Department of Licensing;

18) $.5 million for a new air transportation commission.

Appropriation:  $159.5 million

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   29   18

     House 94  3 (House amended)

     Senate          (Senate refused to concur)

Free Conference Committee

     House 83 14

     Senate   41    4

EFFECTIVE:March 30, 1990

Partial Veto Summary:  Section 3, Washington State Patrol--field operations, was vetoed because the Governor was concerned that additional draws on the PSEA might cause the account to be overexpended.  This reduced the total appropriation by $364,600.  The items that were eliminated include:  $250,000 (PSEA) for a new component to the public safety officers program on bicycle awareness; $65,000 (SPHA) for acquisition of commercial vehicle enforcement sales; and $49,000 (SPHA) and $600 (GF-S) for the Department of General Administration motor vehicle fleet assessment.

Section 13, which contained the $550,000 appropriation for the Air Transportation Commission, was vetoed.  The commission would have been supported equally by general and transportation fund appropriations.  The Governor did not believe this was an appropriate use of general fund monies.

The Governor vetoed section 33 of the transportation budget which would have provided a $3 million general fund-state appropriation to the Department of Ecology (DOE) for distribution to local air pollution control authorities.  The DOE is currently developing a comprehensive program to address air pollution and will submit budget requests in 1991.  (See VETO MESSAGE)