MOSES LAKE - The state's recently passed supplemental capital budget includes a big chunk of cash for Central Washington projects.

Washington's $1 billion construction plan consists of two bills authorizing spending on capital improvements across the state. Gov. Chris Gregoire is scheduled to sign the bills into law Monday.

"The district's taxpayers send a lot of their money to Olympia," stated Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake, who helped secure capital budget funding for construction projects in Grant, Kittitas and Yakima counties. "This budget brings money back home to create and preserve jobs, construct needed infrastructure, and produce opportunities for more economic development."

The largest project to receive funding in the 13th Legislative District is the Grant County Skills Center, which was granted $19.41 million. In the 12th District, the Grand Coulee Dam School District will receive $17 million to help build a new K-12 school.

The proposed capital budget also includes a $1.1 million state Department of Commerce grant to the Port of Quincy for infrastructure improvements to prepare the port for the arrival of new companies.

"Amway recently announced that it will construct a facility on port property, and this funding will prepare adjacent sites for future tenants at the port," stated Holmquist Newbry. "Exciting things are happening in our district."

Patric Connelly, District 2 commissioner for the Port of Quincy, said the funds allow the extension of water, electrical, sewer and roads at the port, work he estimates will begin early this summer.

About $1.2 million was set aside for the Housing Authority of Grant County to build about 25 new apartments for farm workers in Bridgeport, but Housing Authority executive director John Poling said the agency must still go through an application process before the funds are assured.

The capital budget includes $2 million set aside by the state Department of Ecology to facilitate the release of Lake Roosevelt water to the Columbia Basin Project's East Low Canal, and $2.5 million for the Interstate 90 crossing of the 5-mile pipeline that will connect Keechelus Lake and Kachess Lake near Cle Elum.

Also in Kittitas County, Central Washington University is slated to receive $430,000 for minor works and another $273,000 for utility projects.

"Since Central Washington University is the largest capital budget jobs creator in Kittitas County, I worked hard to ensure continued capital construction and operating budget support for the University," said Holmquist Newbry. "I also fixed an error in last year's operating budget to advert a $1.63 million liability to the university, and for the first time since 2009, the state legislative session concluded without cutting Central Washington University's operating budget."

In Yakima County, notable capital budget items include $2 million to the Housing Authority of Yakima's Harmony Park Apartments, $450,000 for Yakima Basin Ground Water Management and $166,000 for the Oak Creek Wildlife Area Road Abandonment.

Holmquist Newbry also made comments concerning the $31.1 billion supplemental operating budget, which was passed by the Legislature last week and will be on the governor's desk by early May.

She called it a "compromise budget," but one that protects education while giving lawmakers the leverage needed to achieve "significant and meaningful solutions" leading to a more efficient and sustainable state government.

"It's been a difficult 12 months, with two regular sessions and four special sessions, but in the end what matters most is that we have a fiscally-responsible budget and a number of solutions that will save taxpayers money and put our state on a more sustainable course," she stated.