WSU expressed its support for Governor Jay Inslee’s final capital budget in committee testimony this week. The proposal would fully fund the university’s request to address deferred maintenance projects and leverage private participation.
The budget proposal, rolled out last month, allocates $40 million for minor works preservation, which funds projects across the WSU system, including heating system and roof replacements. The proposal provides $11.6 million of a requested $20 million to support the minor works program, which pays for small-scale renovations and equipment purchases. Also funded were design and demolition to support a new science building in Pullman and construction of the Team Health Education Building in Spokane.
In committee testimony, WSU expressed its appreciation for funds provided to design an expansion at the Washington State Disease Diagnostic Lab installation at the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center. WSU further noted that, despite the budget providing $17.3 million for the university’s efforts to decarbonize to comply with the state’s Climate Commitment Act, the university would need additional appropriation from the Act over time. You can read more about what the governor’s proposed capital budget did for WSU here.
You can view WSU’s full testimony below. With former Governor Inslee’s proposed budgets now having been heard in the House and Senate, budget writers in those chambers begin to consider their own proposals as the Legislature closes out the fifth day and first week of the 105-day 2025 session.