Governor signs state construction budget

Today’s bill signings in Olympia included the 2009-2011 state Capital Budget, which funds construction, maintenance, and repair of schools and other public facilities.

Rep. Scott White, who sits on the House Capital Budget committee, joined Senator Karen Fraser, chair of the Senate Capital Budget committee, at the Governor’s side as she signed the bill.

Also present was a crowd representing various local jurisdictions and organizations that will receive capital budget funds this biennium. As the crowd poured into the conference room, the Governor asked the two legislators if they were all there for the Capital Budget. They replied that these were folks who were happy with the budget.

“Can they stay?” joked the Governor.

Rep. Hans Dunshee, who chairs the House Capital Budget committee, was unable to attend the bill signing but said he is pleased that in a year when the state’s construction budget took a 30 percent cut in order to keep more teachers on the job, all K-12 construction projects are still fully funded.

“The projects funded in this budget will mean at least 14,000 jobs across the state,” Dunshee said.

The $3.3 billion budget is House Bill 1216.