Projects include construction at Green Mountain School in Woodland and funds for Yacolt Community Center and Port of Ridgefield Waterfront Park
Communities across Washington depend on the capital budget to build, repair, and preserve the public infrastructure people rely on every day, from schools and public health facilities to housing, water systems, and community spaces.
With the final passage of the 2026 supplemental capital budget, Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, say the plan includes meaningful investments for the 20th Legislative District while also raising important questions about how some of the budget is financed.
Senate Bill 6003 updates the state’s two-year capital plan and makes investments in schools, flood response, housing, water infrastructure, and community projects across Washington.
Abbarno and Orcutt said the capital budget is one of the most important tools for supporting local communities because it funds projects people can see and use in their daily lives.
“For the 20th District, this budget includes investments that will strengthen schools, improve public facilities, address infrastructure needs, and support important community spaces,” said Abbarno, House Republican Caucus Chair. “As assistant ranking member on the House Capital Budget Committee, I have worked to keep the focus on practical projects that improve quality of life and deliver value for local communities.”
The lawmakers said the final capital budget includes several statewide investments that will matter to families and communities across Washington, including over $71 million for school modernization, $30 million for flood response, $55 million for homeownership opportunities, and other public infrastructure and community projects throughout the state.
At the same time, they said some funding decisions in the final budget warrant closer scrutiny, particularly the reliance on transfers and backfills, which could weaken long-term infrastructure support for local governments.
For the 20th Legislative District, several projects were included in the final supplemental capital budget that will support schools, public safety, public health, flood response, and community facilities, including:
- $6 million for construction at Green Mountain School in Woodland.
- $1.552 million for a Public Health Building renovation and upgrades in Centralia.
- $1.545 million for the Carlisle Lake Dam Safety Improvement project in Onalaska.
- $772,000 for the Yacolt Community Center in Yacolt.
- $150,000 for the detox/inpatient substance use disorder building in Chehalis.
- $100,000 for the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds 4-H Barn roof replacement in Centralia.
- $100,000 for the Port of Ridgefield Waterfront Park in Ridgefield.
- $48,000 to support school modernization planning for the Napavine School District.
- $45,000 for the Forest Grange Renovations and Revitalization Project in Chehalis.
- $30,000 for the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds surface and drainage improvement project in Centralia.
“These projects reflect real needs in our communities and will make a difference for the people who live here,” Abbarno added. “They support students, improve safety, strengthen public health infrastructure, address flood and water concerns, and invest in spaces that bring people together.”
“I am quite pleased to be able to secure funding for so many projects throughout our district – even more than in preliminary versions. The funding we secured will fund projects and protect critical infrastructure for numerous entities in our community,” said Orcutt. “I am disappointed, however, that the operating budget raided funds from the Public Works Assistance Account and School Construction Assistance Program, leaving less for local government and school facilities.”
Abbarno and Orcutt said the capital budget works best when it balances strong local investments with responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and they will continue working to support projects that strengthen communities across the 20th District.
Information provided by the Washington State House Republicans, houserepublicans.wa.gov
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