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House budgets support schools and jobs, keep promises to taxpayers

Investments reflect priorities of Washington’s families, says Speaker Chopp

March 26, 2007

OLYMPIA – Three biennial budgets forged on optimism about Washington’s future were passed out of the House of Representatives today.

Jobs, accountability, and major commitments to education and health care are the focus of the House operating, capital and transportation budgets. All are two-year spending plans for 2007-09.

“The investments we make with these budgets reflect the priorities of Washington’s people,” said Speaker Frank Chopp. “We provide a record level of support for school construction and housing in our capital budget. The operating budget focuses on education, job training, and health care – the same things families discuss around their kitchen tables.”

The “Families First” operating budget expands health care coverage for 38,000 more children. It also helps seniors with long-term care and prescriptions, provides funding to keep felons in jail longer, and increases protections for children in foster care.

Education, however, is the largest single component of the budget, covering the spectrum from improving early childhood learning programs, to rewarding outstanding teachers, to providing more financial aid and enrollment slots for college and university students.

“The Opportunity Grants program we started last year has already begun to pay dividends,” said Chopp, “so we’ve expanded it.”

The transportation budget and the capital budget combined are expected to support a total of 43,000 jobs over the next two to three years, according to the state Office of Fiscal Management.

Most of the transportation budget is dedicated to keeping promises made to taxpayers by maintaining the timeline for major projects already planned, without funding new projects.

For example, funding is allocated for design work to address immediate safety concerns on the Alaska Way Viaduct and $120 million in new money is allocated toward replacing the 520 Floating Bridge.

The capital budget includes a record $879 million in spending for K-12 school construction and about $1 billion for higher education construction statewide, as well as $140 million for the Housing Trust Fund and $220 million for Puget Sound and salmon recovery efforts.

In an effort to be more accountable to taxpayers, the capital budget also commits the state to a thorough economic analysis of how public property is acquired and sold.

The operating budget passed by a vote of 62 to 35. The capital budget passed 93 to 4, and the transportation budget was approved by a vote of 81 to 16.

The Senate is expected to release their budgets later this week. Differences in House and Senate budget proposals will be worked out in conference committee before approval of a final state budget.

Contact information:

Speaker Frank Chopp 360-786-7920

Melinda Ellis-McCrady 360-786-7385

For complete details on the Operating, Capital, and Transportation budgets go to: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/proposals.asp