01-06-2016 2015-17 BudgetHOUSE
REPUBLICANS
LET'S GET WASHINGTON WORKING
2015 -17 capital budget
Addressing state priorities within existing bond capacity
From the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, we sought to address state priorities within existing bond capacity
and work toward bipartisan agreements on the 2015 -17 capital budget. We identified these priorities as: K -12 and
higher education school construction; increasing mental health bed capacity; mitigation for the current drought; housing
for veterans and vulnerable individuals; flood hazard mitigation; and important local community projects. In the end,
these priorities were met as bipartisan compromises were reached.
2015 -17 capital budget 1 House Bills 1115 and 1166
• House Bill 1115 implements the 2015 -17 capital budget, and House Bill 1166 authorizes the bonds to pay for
those expenditures.
• The capital budget had an overall bond capacity of approximately $2.3 billion. Bond capacity is based off of a
percentage of the operating budget.
Breakdown of 2015 -17 capital budget spending
• The 2015 -17 capital budget spends a total of $3.7 billion. Of the $3.7 billion, $2.2 billion is paid for through
general obligation (GO) bonds and $1.5 billion is spent using other funding sources, including certificates of
participation, dedicated accounts, trust revenue and federal funds.
• House Bill 1166, authorizes the purchase of $2.2 billion in GO bonds and required a 60 percent vote for passage
(59 "yes" votes).
• The capital budget leaves remaining bond capacity of $89 million for 2016 supplemental appropriations.
• Significant investments were made in several important areas:
o $1.6 billion into K -12 and higher education, including additional classroom space to accommodate lower
K -3 class sizes and support for our state's four -year and community and technical colleges.
o A little more than $1 billion will be distributed amongst natural resource programs such as state parks,
water conservation, eco- hazard clean up, and outdoor recreation.
o $85 million will go into energy sector programs, including the Community Energy Efficiency Program,
Clean Energy and Energy Freedom Program, and Weatherization Matchmaker.
o $75 million will be provided to the Housing Trust Fund for loans and grant projects that provide housing
for low- income individuals and families, including 80 units for veterans.
o $38 million will go to land acquisitions in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
o Allocations to state hospitals, including ward additions, patient safety improvements and other
preservation projects, were made (in coordination with mental health investments in the operating
budget).
o $36 million will go to the health, preservation and safety of our correctional institutions, including re-
opening Maple Lane as a facility for offenders with mental illnesses.
o $16 million will be used for statewide drought response (as authorized by the operating budget).
o Although no new projects were funded through the Public Works Assistance Account due to a transfer
to the operating budget, $11 million will be provided to continue previously approved projects.
Bills of interest
• Senate Bill 6080 provides $200 million in grants to help school districts expand the number of classrooms in
support of K -3 class -size reductions, and requires Washington State University to physically visit and inventory
classroom space to provide a more accurate assessment of school district needs.
• House Bill 2212 exempts hospitals from Certificate of Need requirements for the addition of psychiatric beds
funded by grants from the Department of Commerce.
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More information
• http: / /www.fiscal.wa.gov /BudgetC.aspx
• http: / /www. fiscal .wa.gov /BudgetCBillsSenate.aspx
• http:// www. fiscal.wa.gov /Capita1Lists.aspx
• http: / /www.ofm.wa.gov/ budget /instructions /capital.asp
• http: / /Ieg.wa.gov /House /Committees /CB
• http: / /leg.wa.gov/ House / Committees /CB/ Documents /2015 /CB_BriefingBook.pdf
• http: / /leap.leg.wa.gov /leap /budget /leapdocs /capdocs.asp
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