Senate and House leaders aired their respective capital budget proposals Monday afternoon with the Senate proposing $17.9 million for investments in WSU’s infrastructure and the House proposing $4 million.
Those funds provided to WSU in the House version are allocated for minor works projects to help address the university’s list of deferred maintenance backlog that exceeds $1.8 billion across the university system. The House version, which WSU is opposing, did not provide funds for the university’s request to design and renovate space on the Spokane campus for Team Health Education.
The Senate proposal, which the university is supporting, funds the following for WSU:
- $8 million for minor works projects.
- $7 million to design and renovate space for Team Health Education in Spokane. In tandem with an updated reappropriation of $2.9 million from last biennium, this would be sufficient to complete the renovation.
- $1.5 million for upgrading infrastructure at Ensminger Pavilion in Pullman.
- $400,000 for upgrading soil health research infrastructure.
- $1 million to improve energy systems in the WSU Creamery.
WSU testified Tuesday on the House budget, and you can view below beginning at 38 minutes and 40 seconds.
Senate tesimony will be taken this afternoon and video will be posted when available.