Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Capital Budget Committee

HB 2648

Brief Description:  Requiring additional information from certain capital budget applicants.

Sponsors:  Representatives Murray, Esser, Reardon and McIntire.

Brief Summary of Bill

$In its capital budget instructions to be released in spring 2002, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) must require capital budget applicants to provide additional information for all proposed capital projects.

$All capital budget project applicants must include information on regional coordination (where applicable), leveraging local funds, and environmental impacts. Applicants for projects in or serving counties and cities fully planning under the Growth Management Act must include information on the host government's preference for locating the project and whether the project is located in an urban growth area (UGA) and the implications of this.

$The Office of Community Development must assist OFM and capital budget applicants in collecting the additional information. 

Hearing Date:  2/4/02

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786‑7340).

Background:

The Governor, through his Office of Financial Management (OFM), proposes a capital budget and 10‑year capital plan each biennium.  The OFM publishes a set of instructions to assist state agencies and others in applying to have a capital project included in the Governor's capital budget proposal.  In its capital budget planning, OFM must verify that recommended capital projects are consistent with the Growth Management Act (GMA).

The GMA was enacted in 1990 and 1991.  It requires certain counties and the cities located in those counties to enact comprehensive plans and development regulations that are consistent with the GMA, and to meet other requirements.  There are 29 counties fully planning under the GMA.  All counties and cities must comply with certain provisions of the GMA (such as identifying and protecting critical areas).  Counties and cities that are fully planning under the GMA must  accommodate essential public facilities in their planning.

In the 2001‑03 Capital Budget, agencies received specific appropriations for over 175 capital projects.  Hundreds of other capital projects were authorized through general grant and loan programs.

Summary of Bill:

In its capital budget instructions to be released in spring 2002, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) must require capital budget applicants to provide additional information for all proposed capital projects.

For all proposed capital projects, information must be provided to OFM regarding:

     (1)Region cooperation if applicable;

     (2)local or additional funds being leveraged; and

     (3) environmental impacts of the project and reductions of adverse impacts.

In addition, for projects located in or serving a county or city fully planning under the GMA, information must be provided to OFM regarding:

     (1)The host local government's preference for locating capital projects as identified in the local comprehensive plan and development regulations; and

     (2)whether the project is located in an urban growth area and (a) if so, how the project supports planned growth, or (b) if not, how the project affects future development patterns.

The OFM must take into account this required information in preparing its capital budget document.

The Office of Community Development in the Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development must provide staff support to OFM and capital budget applicants to help collect the required information.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 25, 2002.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.