OLYMPIA, Wash. — On Sunday, Washington lawmakers passed a $69 billion two-year state operating budget.
According to state lawmakers, the budget will allocate money to different programs across the state, including schools, mental health care and prisons. House Democrats said the budget adds more than $4 billion in new spending with no increase in taxes.
Here's part of the budget, broken down.
- $2 billion in pay raises for state workers and school employees
- $400 million for affordable housing projects
- $2 billion to Washington State Patrol for workforce shortages and retention
Here are some local projects funded by the new budget:
- $2 million for the Spokane Airport "Trans-Load Center" Rail extension
- $1 million for Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center
- $168 million to the North Spokane Corridor
There are also investments in public safety, including traffic cameras in work zones, climate change efforts, special education in schools and other public safety concerns.
For more on the approved budget, click here.
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