Gov. Gregoire signs law to create jobs and build for education

For Immediate Release: May 16, 2005

OLYMPIA � May 16, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today signed a $3.3 billion construction budget that provides 24,400 jobs for Washington workers and builds much-needed facilities for Washington school children and college students.

The two-year construction package not only buys high-paying construction jobs and public-school and higher-education buildings, but also funds projects to better protect the environment and public safety and revitalize local communities.

�As our economy picks up steam, the capital budget will give it a nice push by providing construction jobs and by positioning our education system to better accommodate students learning the skills to succeed in life,� the governor said.

�This legislation contains most of what I asked from the Legislature, and I�m pleased to sign it,� she said.

Among highlights of the capital budget:

Spends $617 million in K-12 school-building projects providing state matching funds.

Invests $429 million for projects at four-year universities. Among investments are University of Washington projects that add classroom space at Architecture Hall, improve space for engineering students at Guggenheim Hall, and modernize space for biomedical research at the H-Wing Health Sciences Complex. And � for Washington State University � a new nursing education building in Spokane, and funding for projects at WSU Vancouver for its conversion to a four-year university.

Devotes $461 million for 64 projects at community and technical colleges. Among investments are repairs such as new roofs and refurbished electrical and plumbing systems at 32 colleges, as well as classroom construction at Green River Community College in Auburn and Bates Technical College, and at Everett, Walla Walla, South Puget Sound, Yakima Valley, Columbia Basin and Grays Harbor community colleges.

Protects fish and wildlife habitat and supports local parks through a $50 million investment in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. Also invests $27 million to add new state parks � in recognition of the state parks system�s 100-year anniversary in 2013.

Moves to clean up Hood Canal and establish other water projects. Funds grants and loans to improve and construct wastewater systems, including one at Belfair, repair failing septic systems and plan for storm-water control along the canal. Improves water management through the Columbia River Initiative to fund water-storage project studies and buy and conserve water for out-of-stream uses and fish. Supplements the Centennial Clean Water Fund with grants and loans for planning, design, acquisition and construction of water-pollution-control facilities and activities. $74 million

Constructs a phase-one medium security prison with 1,280 beds at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Franklin County to confine a rising number of inmates. $179 million

Funds $92 million in local community projects. The lengthy list includes projects such as $1 million to renovate the Vancouver National Historic Reserve West Barracks, $2.4 million to renovate the Fox Theatre in Spokane, $250,000 for the Filipino Multi-Cultural Center in Kitsap County, $150,000 for the Snohomish Senior Center and $1 million for the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

Gregoire also signed two bills that support public works spending.

She signed a measure (ESHB 2299) authorizing the state to issue $1.43 billion in general obligation bonds to help finance capital construction projects. The governor signed a bill (HB2170) that will increase the state�s capacity to issue bonds to support common school construction.