Washington State House Democrats

April 5, 2005

OLYMPIA–Democrats and Republicans united across party lines today to propose the largest package of state assistance for local school construction in Washington state history.

"This budget invests in our schools, our children and our future," said state Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (D-Normandy Park). "I’m thrilled the proposed $613 million investment will build new and better schools while reversing the trend of shifting more and more school-construction costs to local property-taxes."

Schual-Berke noted that twenty years ago the state paid roughly two-thirds of total school construction costs in Washington, but declining state support has forced local property-tax payers to shoulder more than two-thirds of these costs in recent years. The proposed House budget would ease the burden on property taxes by bringing the state’s share of school construction costs back up to 40 percent.

"I’m especially appreciative of the major help for Mt. Rainier High School and Kent Junior High," said Schual-Berke. The budget includes more than a million dollars for Kent Junior High, and $3.7 million towards the new Mt. Rainier High School.

The budget also contains $400,000 for historic preservation of Camp Waskowitz, which has served generations of students in the Highline area.

"Camp Waskowitz is an institution for parents and children in our community. I’m delighted we are helping sustain this historic campus built by the CCC which now serves our school children so well," Schual-Berke said.

The bipartisan budget plan announced today would fund several other important projects in the 33^rd legislative district:

• $3 million for the City of Burien’s Town Square project, a public-private partnership to revitalize downtown Burien.
• $200,000 to help Lutheran Community Services develop a community services building that will offer child care, senior help and other services to an estimated 12,000 persons annually in the SeaTac community.
• $250,000 to develop a Japanese Memorial Garden within the existing Highline Botanical Garden in SeaTac.
• $300,000 for restoration of historic cabins at Des Moines Beach Park.
• $500,000 to help Highline Community College renovate and replace buildings on its unique Marine Science and Technology Pier, for teaching and research.
• $1,717,000 to replace a failing primary power system at the West Branch of Highline Community College. According to the college, the deteriorating power system needs to be replaced and upgraded "to avoid more campus closures and the high cost of emergency repair work."
• $617,000 to expand the Pediatric Interim Care Facility in Kent, which provides around-the-clock care for infants suffering from prenatal drug exposure.

All told, the proposed bipartisan capital budget offers more than $13 million for school construction and other capital needs in the 33^rd District.

"By taking advantage of low interest rates, we get great value for the public’s tax dollars locally and across the state," Schual-Berke said.