Following days of negotiations, the House and Senate released their joint capital and operating budgets today which fully fund two of WSU’s legislative priorities.
The capital budget compromise fully funds WSU’s $4 million request to design the Life Sciences Building at the Vancouver campus.
The operating budget compromise converts one-time money provided last year for the Soil Health Initiative to ongoing and adds $788,000 in annual ongoing funding to fulfill WSU’s request. The research and extension initiative is a collaboration between WSU, the state Department of Agriculture and the state Conservation Commission to develop new strategies to improve soil health and get those strategies in the hands of growers.
WSU’s final legislative priority, a bill that would reauthorize the Joint Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation, cleared the House last week and awaits action from the governor.
Both budgets now await final floor votes in both chambers before the Legislature adjourns Sine Die on Thursday.