House and Senate budget writers unveiled their operating budget agreement for the 2021-23 biennium Saturday afternoon, providing the final tranche of funding to complete core funding for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
The budget appropriates $3.6 million in the two-year budget to support third- and fourth-year instruction for the 20-seat expansion authorized in 2019. This completes an seven-year legislative campaign to authorize and fund the college.
The compromise budget also $656,000 for maintenance and operation of the new WSU Tri-Cities academic building.
Another $2.1 million was provided for the Washington Soil Health Initiative, originally funded by the Legislature last year but vetoed by the governor to curb spending at the outset of the pandemic.
The compromise budget awaits a vote by both legislative chambers before Sunday’s scheduled adjournment.
The Legislature unveiled its compromised capital budget Thursday and you can read about it here.