The state Senate released a bipartisan capital-budget proposal today for 2015-17 which builds over 2,100 classrooms, devotes $60 million to local-government infrastructure projects statewide and maintains and preserves parks and trails. The $3.9 billion plan would fund the construction and maintenance of capital assets across Washington – such as schools and projects with economic-development value.

“The capital budget is an important component for economic development statewide,” said Warnick- R Moses Lake. “This budget puts money toward building schools and make grants available to local governments to boost their economies. I’m glad to support a strong bipartisan proposal that puts our state’s future on the right track.”

With $254 million more directed to public schools than the House proposal, the Senate plan seeks to support student-achievement efforts by building additional classrooms, the largest chunk being aimed at kindergarten through third grade.

“We demonstrated in the operating budget that our kids come first. The capital budget does the same thing. We put nearly half of the funds toward educational projects like investing nearly $1 billion over the next six years to build over 2,100 classrooms for these students.”

All public-works-board list projects are funded through the Senate proposal, which supports local infrastructure and provides family-wage construction jobs.

“We need to make these investments in our communities if our state is going to continue to be successful. Our proposal protects and invests in our natural resources and will insure that our cities and counties have access to resources to grow their economies. That is critical as our state works to bring the economic recovery statewide. This capital budget is good for our schools, jobs, and community,” said Warnick.

The legislation will be a striking amendment to Engrossed House Bill 1115 which received a public hearing at noon today in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

You can click here to view a list of projects and locations that are funded in the Senate’s proposed capital budget.