Sen. Mike Padden appreciates that the Senate’s proposed two-year state capital budget, released Monday, includes several projects in the 4th Legislative District and allows district residents to see their tax dollars help their local communities.
“Just about everything I requested is included in the Senate’s capital budget proposal, so I’m pleased with it,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “The budget helps fund several local athletic and recreational projects in our district, as well as performing arts projects and other local projects. It’s a good capital budget for the 4th District and for the state, and it’s good to see taxpayers’ money spent on local projects.”
The Senate’s proposed capital budget also funds these 4th District projects:
- $1.176 million for Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center construction, with another $1.849 million provided for the Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, which will be part of the performing arts center.
- $1.03 million for the HUB sports fields in Liberty Lake.
- $750,000 for Spokane Scale House Market in Spokane Valley.
- $500,000 in Washington Wildlife Recreation Program funding for phase 2 work at Greenacres Park in Spokane Valley.
- $350,000 for a synthetic turf field in Liberty Lake.
- $207,000 for Veterans Memorial Balfour Park in Spokane Valley, with this funding having been repurposed from the 2022 state capital budget.
- $130,000 for natural areas facilities preservation and access.
- $100,000 for Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park in Mead.
- $100,000 for Township Hall North and West in Spokane.
- $100,000 from the Building Communities Fund Grant Program for expansion of the public food business incubator.
- $40,000 to fund appraisals of two pieces of property, one in Liberty Lake that is being considered as the possible new location for the Army National Guard unit, and the other at Geiger Field, where the unit currently is located.
In addition, Senate capital budget writers provided funding for several baseball stadium projects across Washington, including $543,000 in local and community project funding for Spokane County Avista Stadium renovations in Spokane Valley.
The state capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public-school matching grants, higher-education facilities, public lands, parks, and other assets.
The Senate capital budget received a public hearing Monday in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The panel is expected to vote on the spending plan today, with the full Senate voting on it Friday.
The House of Representatives is expected to release its proposed capital budget next week.
The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end April 23.