Lawmakers grapple with budget
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The City Council on April 1 heard a comprehensive review of the 2024 legislative session.
According to City lobbyist Holly Sanabria, Airway Heights requested more aid for wildfire response and $260,000 for replacement of a fire engine, but did not receive funding.
“The Legislature has three options: adopt as presented, adopted and modify, take no action and goes to vote,” Sanabria said of the budget request.
The Legislature adopted the supplemental operating, capital and transportation budgets, as well as introduced 1,560 bills, 376 of which passed into law.
The February revenue forecasts a $1.2 billion increase from when the original operating budget was enacted, as well as $2.1 billion in additional spending for a $71.9 billion biennial budget, she said.The operating budget is for state agencies.
The capital budget includes public and nonprofit construction projects, she said. There will be $1.3 billion of additional investments for a $10.3 billion biennial budget, with a combination of bond capacity, as well as $72.5 million allocated for local community projects.
“The key investments are in housing and homelessness, behavioral health and education,” Sanabria said.
Transportation budget
As for transportation, Sanabria said that, “traditional revenues like the gas tax, license fees and permits are down by $56 million.”
The state’s transportation system includes highways, ferries, transit and transportation related agencies, and there will be $1 billion of new spending for a total $14.6 million biennial budget.
The city has made four transportation project requests, but the state transportation budget is constrained, and projects continue to remain in the queue, she said.
“The Legislature continues to grapple with the transportation budget,” Sanabria said. “There was no transportation budget approved for Airway Heights.”
Airway Heights also requested water utilities funding, with a focus on re-securing $14.95 million appropriated in 2021. The final budget maintains funding for the city’s projects.
Additionally, the city made a request for 2025 of $1.5 million for public safety and proactive advocacy, she said. The state investment thus far was $1.3 million in 2023.
Sanabria said that the path forward included implementing new policies and projects funded with state awards. She said the city also needs to create an interim action plan with steps to prepare for the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 13, 2025.
“It is my strong recommendation that the city applies to grants over the next year,” Sanabria said. “Even if they are not successful, it shows initiative.”
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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