From the Office of Rep. Steve Bergquist

Below are highlights of the 2022 Operating, Transportation, and Capital Budgets. Please use the space indicated to provide feedback on each budget.

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* 1. This year’s operating budget continues our work in last year’s budget to support those hurt most during the pandemic, while helping families through better access to child care, fully funded schools ready for kids in the fall, a better paid health care workforce and strategic investments in small businesses and entrepreneurs. This budget provides: 
  • Schools that are safe, staffed and prepared for students to return in September with inflation-adjusted salaries to keep teachers from leaving the profession and $91 million to hire more school counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers 
  • Investments in kids’ dental health, community health systems and the health care workforce, so our frontline health care professionals are compensated fairly 
  • Support for communities and small businesses by offering $100 million in assistance for the hardest hit restaurants and other hospitality businesses; a business tax credit for 70% of our small business; and $39 million in grants to local chambers of commerce, main streets, and other organizations to help with local economic needs 
  • More child care funding and availability, including more Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program slots and investments in our foster care program 
The budget also includes funding for before and after school programs for low-income students in the Tukwila School District and a pilot program at Renton Technical College to increase outreach and participation in running start and adult education programs.

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* 2. We passed a transportation budget that invests in a reliable, accessible and modern transportation system, and includes funding for local projects to: 
  • Widen I-405/SR 181 to SR 167 to help reduce congestion  
  • Continue widening the I-405 corridor between Renton and Bellevue   
  • Earthquake retrofit work and painting of the Bronson Way Bridge   
  • Build stations, shelters, lighting and other amenities along the upcoming rapid bus service line connecting Renton, Kent and Auburn 
  • Replace five diesel-electric hybrid buses with new battery electric buses

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* 3. The $1.5 billion state construction budget makes significant investments in housing, economic development, early learning and broadband internet, with funding for: 
  • Behavioral health: $26 million for community behavioral health capacity grants and $13 million for capital investments at state-run behavioral health facilities  
  • Early learning and education: $48 million for early learning facilities, $30 million for public universities and $24 million for public community and technical colleges   
  • Infrastructure: $108 million for clean water grants and loans, $40 million for the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) which is focused on economic development, and $24 million for infrastructure projects and $16 million for infrastructure at ports 
  • Broadband: $50 million for the State Broadband Office and $50 million for broadband projects in unserved and underserved areas through the Public Works Board and CERB 
  • Local projects: $258,000 for a Tukwila teen and senior center, $250,000 for facilities for homeless youth in Tukwila and $46,000 for repairs at Renton Technical College

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* 4. Your responses are anonymous, so if you'd like a personal reply:
    1. Send me an email; or
    2. Leave your name and phone number (optional)

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