Manweller offers bill to reduce school construction costs
Herald Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 4 months AGO
OLYMPIA - Rep. Matt Manweller introduced a bill to reduce the costs of school construction Wednesday in Olympia.
House Bill 1255, would exempt new public school construction projects from prevailing wage requirements, including hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime paid in the largest city in each county to the majority of the workers, according to the bill.
"Prevailing wage law is pushing our school construction costs up about 30 to 35 percent. We simply cannot afford those costs in rural communities," said Manweller, R-Ellensburg.
In 2012, 16 school districts received more than $200 million from the state School Construction Assistance Program for construction and modernization projects. Manweller said many school districts across the state cannot get a bond passed for new school construction because communities feel the proposed costs are too much.
"This bill would help our students, our teachers and taxpayers," Manweller said. "Our kids deserve to learn in a healthy and safe environment." Manweller said some proposed projects in the 13th District would cost between $260 and $360 per square foot.
"Many schools in the 13th District are very old. If we could get this bill through the legislative process, we could build more modern, technologically-advanced, green schools," Manweller said.
The bill was introduced during a public hearing in the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Warnick, Manweller sponsor Taylor Bridge Fire reconstruction legislation
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 12 years, 3 months ago

Warnick pushes for lower taxes for REC Silicon
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 12 years, 3 months ago
ARTICLES BY HERALD STAFF WRITER

Staatses plead not guilty
EPHRATA - The Moses Lake couple, accused of refusing to take their child to a hospital as the boy was starving, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Central Wash. Home Expo this weekend
MOSES LAKE - Basin residents wanting to build a new home, or renovate an existing one, can turn to next weekend's Central Washington Home Expo for inspiration.

Nurse practitioner program begins in Othello
Application deadline is May 15
OTHELLO - The Columbia Basin Health Association will start a training program for nurse practitioners, beginning in September. The program's application deadline is May 15.