Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Capital Budget Committee

HB 1115

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Authorizes new appropriations of $3.6 billion and reappropriations of $3.2 billion for capital projects in the 2015-17 fiscal biennium.
Authorizes state agencies to enter into alternative financing contracts totaling $232 million.

Background:

Washington operates on a biennial budget cycle. The Legislature authorizes expenditures for capital needs in the State Omnibus Capital Appropriations Act (Capital Budget) for a two-year period, and authorizes bond sales through passage of a bond bill associated with the Capital Budget to fund a portion of these expenditures. Approximately half of the Capital Budget is financed by these state-issued general obligation bonds, and the balance is funded by dedicated accounts, trust revenue, and federal funding sources. The primary two-year budget is passed in the odd-numbered years, and a supplemental budget making adjustments to the two-year budget is often passed during the even-numbered years. The current Capital Budget covers the period from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015.

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, military readiness centers, and higher education facilities. The Capital Budget also funds a variety of environmental and natural resource projects, parks and recreational facilities, public K-12 school construction, and grant and loan

programs that support housing, public infrastructure, community service facilities, and art and historical projects.

Summary of Bill:

The 2015-17 Capital Budget authorizes new appropriations totaling $3.6 billion, of which $2.2 billion is financed with state general obligation bonds. It authorizes state agencies to enter into a variety of alternative financing contracts totaling $232 million. It also authorizes reappropriations totaling $3.2 billion for uncompleted projects approved in prior biennia.