Budgeting for a more resilient Washington   

Our 2023-25 Resilient Washington Budget funds critical state services including behavioral health, public education, affordable housing, and historic investments to address the climate crisis. We are investing in Washington’s people, lands, waters, working families, and communities, while also directing targeted equity investments to overburdened populations that face the greatest barriers to economic stability. These are some of the highlights:   

• K-12 EDUCATION: $2.2 billion for access to free meals for students; historic investments in special education; supporting educators with inflation adjustments; health care cost increases for educators; funding dual language efforts; and providing funding support for student transportation, teacher salaries, counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers. 
• BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: $1.1 billion for a 15% rate increase to providers; additional community bed capacity; opioid and other substance use disorder treatment; crisis, outreach, and diversion programs; funding the 988-crisis response hotline; and improving youth behavioral health outcomes.  
• CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES: $590 million to increase family childcare provider pay; expand Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program slots; increase family visitation provider rates; fund childcare for children with complex needs, and childcare facilities to offer non-standard hours.  
• COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: $382 million for community and technical colleges; health care workforce and training; expanding the Washington College Grant; dual credit programs; a graduate student loan program; and post-secondary student basic needs. 
• PUBLIC SAFETY, LEGAL AID AND CORRECTIONS: $253 million to expand domestic violence services; fund the Office of Public Defense and Office of Civil Legal Aid; expand criminal justice training and certification; fund therapeutic courts; firearm violence prevention; increase wages for people who are incarcerated; and funding for the AMEND program at DOC for collaboration and training.
• LONG-TERM CARE AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: $1.8 billion to increase home care worker rates for individual providers; improve adult family home collective bargaining agreements; support providers and workers with rate increases in nursing homes, assisted and supported living facilities; and patient transitions out of acute care hospitals. 
• PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE: $1 billion for foundational public health services; increase rates for health care workers, including primary care and pediatricians; provider rates and reimbursement; reproductive health services, and Cascade Care for individuals with lower incomes who are not Medicaid eligible.  
• NATURAL RESOURCES: $684 million for climate planning and response; forest health and wildfire protection; salmon production, habitat, and recovery; biodiversity conservation programs; and invasive species management.  
• HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS: $519 million for emergency housing and rental assistance; the covenant homeownership program; expanding child and youth homeless programs; and encampment response and outreach. 
• HUMAN SERVICES AND POVERTY REDUCTION: $397 million including funding for food assistance programs, refugee support and education; an 8% increase to TANF, ABD and other cash assistance programs; implementing the Working Families Tax Credit; and expanding the TANF diaper subsidy and time limit. 

Creating jobs and building a better Washington 

This $9 billion Capital Budget will create jobs in every corner of our state, while addressing some of the more challenging needs in our communities around affordable housing, behavioral health, health care facilities and school construction. It also makes investments in ecosystem resiliency and restoration while working on carbon reduction, focusing on overburdened communities. We are proud of these investments that will build a brighter future and will serve the people of Washington for generations. Here are some of the highlights:  

HOUSING  

• Housing Trust Fund: $400 million — Competitive grant program to build affordable housing, including Apple Health and Homes rapid permanent supportive housing. 
• Affordable housing and shelters: $170 million —Youth shelter and housing projects; transit-oriented development; and land acquisition funding for affordable housing developments. 
• Home upgrades: $124 million —Weatherization for low-income households; home efficiency energy rebates; and home rehabilitation for low-income households in rural areas.  

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH  

• Mental health state facilities: $660 million — Includes 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State Hospital; and renovations at Maple Lane to expand bed capacity by 136 beds.  
• Behavioral health: $224 million - Competitive grants for community behavioral services, including facilities that serve children; the Rising Strong project, which will provide family-centered drug treatment and supportive housing for at least 24 households in Western Washington; and local facilities including crisis diversion, secure detox, and adolescent services.   

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE  

• Public Works Assistance Account: $400 million — Infrastructure for local governments for projects involving drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.  
• Broadband: $200 million — Competitive grants to expand broadband to unserved and underserved communities.  
• Military Department: $129.5 million — Funding for National Guard facilities around the state.   

EDUCATION  

• Higher education: $1.5 billion 
• K-12 public school construction: $872 million 
• Early learning facility grants: $70.4 million  

ENVIRONMENT  

• Water quality: $798 million 
• Clean energy and climate change: $423.8 million 
• Toxic cleanup and prevention: $184.3 million 
• Flood risk reduction and habitat restoration: $177.8 million 
• Water supply: $156 million 
• State Parks: $81.6 million 
• Air quality: $56.6 million

Moving people and goods safely and efficiently  

The 2023-25 biennial Transportation Budget is a transformational $13.6 billion that builds upon the 2021-23 budget and historic 16-year package, Move Ahead Washington. This budget embodies priorities such as creating a sustainable and achievable future for our transportation sector, while also addressing legislative priorities.  

The 2023-25 Transportation Budget reflects our focus on meeting the needs of every community and putting people first:  

• $6 billion for maintenance, preservation, and improvements of existing infrastructure. 
• $2.4 billion to fund fish passage barrier removals. 
• $1.26 billion to procure three hybrid-electric conversion vessels start construction of five new hybrid vessels, ferry workforce development to offer entry level positions, create advancement pathways, provide scholarships for mate candidates, begin a WSF and Seattle Maritime Academy training partnership, and increase HR capacity for WSF’s hiring, recruitment, and retention efforts. 
• $921 million in Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding for active transportation, ferries, alternative fuel and electrification for commercial vehicle infrastructure, as well as hydrogen refueling infrastructure, public transit electrification, e-bike rebate programs, state electrification infrastructure grants, and carbon reduction programs. 
• $406 million in active transportation, including Safe Routes to School, school-based bike programs, and connecting community grants. 
• $161 million to boost bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects and programs, especially in underinvested communities, and to increase opportunities for good jobs in the transportation sector. 
• $109 million to improve rail and freight infrastructure, port modernization efforts for improved future resiliency and expansion of seaports. 
• $3.9 million to keep streets and roadways safe with automated speed cameras in work zones. 

Major Transportation Projects in the 5th District 

Top transportation wins for communities across our district include eliminating delays in major highway projects, such as Highway 18, improving traffic flow and safety, and bridging gaps in multi-modal and pedestrian-based transit.    

• $666 million to widen SR 18 from Issaquah/Hobart Road to Raging River
• $211 million to improve the I-90/SR 18 interchange
• $73 million to improve the I-90/Eastgate to SR 900 corridor
• $5 million to improve Issaquah-Fall City Road from Klahanie Drive to the Issaquah Pine Lake/Issaquah-Fall City intersection
• $5 million to complete the Maple Valley pedestrian bridge over SR 169
• $5 million to rehabilitate the pavement for Snoqualmie Parkway