KGMI News
by Tracy Ellis
OLYMPIA, WASH. – The capital budget approved by the state Senate includes millions for Whatcom County projects.
Capital Budget chair Jim Honeyford says this is a bipartisan spending plan – it passed out of the Senate unanimously.
“The Senate Democrats and I worked well together. So I think we’re in good shape with non-partisanship,” Honeyford says.
If the House goes along with the Senate, a number of Whatcom County projects will receive funding.
Whatcom Community College would get $34 million for a new building for a library and computer lab.
More than $8 million would go toward Bellingham Waterfront cleanup and $750,000 would be for Squalicum Waterway dredging.
$5.5 million would help control naturally occurring asbestos in Swift Creek.
The state would provide a $5 million loan to the city of Bellingham for a new bridge.
Lynden’s Pepin Creek realignment project would receive $4 million.
The Northwest Washington Fair would get $1.2 million for a new exhibit building.
There would also be $3.7 million for various Bellingham-area water quality improvements.