Priority capital projects for WSU campuses in Vancouver, Pullman and Spokane as well as high priority facility preservation funding for the entire university system are included in a compromise capital budget unveiled by legislative leaders.
This comes as the Legislature seeks to wrap up its 2021 session in time for Sunday’s scheduled adjournment. An operating budget agreement is expected to be made public in the next day.
The capital budget agreement provides $52.6 million to fund the construction of the Life Sciences Building at WSU Vancouver. Some $15 million was provided to design and renovate the Spokane Phase One Building.
In Pullman, the budget funded the $8 million demolition of Johnson Hall, which will make space for the construction of a new USDA building, and $8 million to replace a water tower on campus. Also funded was a $4.9 million request to design and renovate the Clark Hall Research Lab and $500,000 was provided to predesign a new Sciences Building. Some $2.5 million was provided to renovate aging STEM teaching labs.
The compromised budget now awaits a vote by both the Senate and the House before heading to the governor’s desk.