Skip to content

Post-Session & 17-19 Capital Budget Highlights

Time has flown by as the State Relations team has finished the 2017 regular session, which officially concluded Sunday, April 23. Here are a few highlights as we head into special session:

We are excited to announce that Governor Jay Inslee signed into law our “critical care roster” legislation (SB 5631) on Tuesday. To read more about the bill, please check out our previous blog post.

Governor Inslee signing SB 5631
Governor Inslee signing SB 5631

The Senate and House released their proposed capital budgets. As noted in the Senate and House 2017-19 biennial budget briefs prepared by the UW Office of Planning & Budgeting (OPB), the Senate capital budget (SB 5086) appropriates $80.7 million in new funding to the university, while the House capital budget (HB 1075) currently appropriates $57.7 million.

Joe Dacca testifying on the House capital budget
Joe Dacca testifying on the House capital budget

In comparing both capital budgets, highlights include funding for:

Seismic improvements

UW request: $25 million

Senate proposed: $10 million

*House proposed: $3 million

*The House capital budget directs an additional $11.5 million from the UW Building Account to fund Seismic Improvements on campus.

Population Health Science Building

UW request: $20 million

Senate proposed: $15 million

House proposed: $10 million

Population Health Academic Facility (T-wing)

UW request: $10 million

Senate proposed: $10 million

House proposed: $5 million

UW Bothell Building Design

UW request: $3 million

Senate proposed: $0

House proposed: $3 million

UW Tacoma Building Predesign

UW request: $500,000

Senate proposed: $500,000

House proposed: $0

Parrington Hall Renovation

UW request: $10 million

Senate proposed: $10 million

House proposed: $0

Center for Advanced Materials and Clean Energy Technology (CAMCET)

UW request: $10 million

Senate proposed: $10 million

House proposed: $12.5 million

Burke Museum

UW request: $24.2 million

Senate proposed: $24.2 million

House proposed: $24.2 million

Additionally, the proposed House capital budget directs $7.5 million of UW Building Account funds to the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) II building.

In response to the proposed operating and capital budgets, President Cauce submitted what is known as a conference letter to key Senate and House leadership to reinforce the university’s legislative priorities.  The letter also advocated for sustainable tuition policy, raised concerns about proposed cuts to the Department of Environmental and Occupation Health Services, and for additional funding for the State Need Grant.

Next week, State Relations, in partnership with the Office of Planning & Budgeting and UW Medicine, will host a post-session update to campus on May 3 from 3:15PM-4:15PM in Gerberding 142. If you are faculty, staff, or a student, we would love for you to join us to engage in further discussion about the proposed budgets and other legislative info!

While we wait for the final operating and capital budgets to be negotiated, the State Relations team will be in contact with legislators and staff in Olympia as needed. We’ll also be preparing for upcoming summer and fall events, engaging with faculty and staff on campus, and trying to get more than five hours of sleep.

To keep up with the latest from Olympia, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you have any questions about state topics, please call 206-543-7604.