Capital budget offers funding for rural broadband

OLYMPIA – The 2021-23 Senate capital budget proposal unveiled March 25 will provide needed funding to increase broadband in rural parts of Washington, said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

The Senate proposal dedicates $490 million toward broadband expansion in the state.

“Insufficient broadband has been a problem in 9th District communities and other rural parts of Washington, so it is very good to see the Senate capital budget provide so much funding to address it,” Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said. “Having better broadband in rural Washington will help students relying on the Internet and it will help small businesses that want to utilize e-commerce."

Schoesler said rural broadband is also critical to precision farming.

"This will help put rural and un-served areas of our state on a more equal footing with more populated areas of Washington,” Schoesler said.

Schoesler said he is pleased the Senate capital budget proposal provides funding in other areas, including fish hatcheries, K-12 education, higher education, public safety, community projects and infrastructure projects.

“I’m glad to see the Senate capital budget would provide funding for the Odessa groundwater project, which is important to many of the communities in our region,” Schoesler said, adding the $8 million included for fair health and safety grants is an additional highlight of the budget.

The Senate capital budget proposal would provide $907.4 million in bond proceeds and $40.2 million in other funds for K-12 school construction and modernization. The spending plan includes:

• $837.3 million for the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP), with $781.7 million dedicated to fund 36 construction and renovation projects in 29 school districts;

• $47.2 million for modernization grants to small school districts;

• $14.2 million for skills centers;

• $10 million to the school district health and safety grants program to address health and safety issues, equal access and emergency repairs; and,

• $51.6 million for construction of new education facilities for those with disabilities.

The Senate capital budget plan also offers $1.51 billion in total appropriations and alternative financing authority for higher education facilities, including $1.06 billion of state bond proceeds. Of the total spending authority, $963 million is provided for the four-year institutions and $551 million for the community and technical college system.

In his role as assistant ranking Republican on the Senate capital budget, Schoesler worked with 15th District Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, the lead Senate Republican on the capital budget, and Senate Democratic capital budget writers in crafting the new two-year plan. The capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public lands and parks.

The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end April 25.