The newly proposed 910-million-dollar House supplemental capital budget makes major investments in schools and housing but also raises concerns about oversight.
Ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee, Representative Mike Steele, says one hallmark of the new capital budget plan is making sure every corner of the state benefits.
“We really try to work very diligently to geographically disperse this money across all of Washington. So, every community gets something out of the capital budget. It puts people to work. It creates jobs.”
The budget includes additional funding for small school modernization grants, seismic upgrades for K-12 buildings, and significant investments in affordable housing.
But Steele also has concerns about a new program funded in the proposal – the so-called “Green Bank” that would receive twelve-and-a-half million dollars to loan out for environmental projects.
“When you seed that money out to this nonprofit group, we have no way of tracking it. You can’t get ahold of it like through a public records request. You can’t see where the money’s going.”
Steele says lawmakers must remain vigilant about accountability and transparency when spending taxpayer dollars.
The House and Senate will negotiate a final version of the capital budget, which is typically one of the last measures approved before the session adjourns March 12.
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