State Sen. Ron Muzzall is praising the bipartisan work on the state’s community investment budget as he worked to secure just over $10.4 million in appropriations for affordable housing, conservation, and behavioral health efforts around the 10th District.
The proposal, Senate Bill 5949, was approved unanimously and invests over $1.3 billion overall across Washington.
“Our communities in the 10th District are facing similar challenges with affordability and infrastructure to deliver critical services. I’m proud to support these investments that help nonprofit organizations, local governments, and schools meet increasing demands placed on them,” said Muzzall, an Oak Harbor Republican. “I’m particularly pleased that we’ll see significant investments in behavioral health facilities and workforce housing.”
Muzzall fought to include $1.9 million for the Holman Recovery Center in Arlington and another $1.6 million for Generations Place Workforce Housing in Langley. Muzzall also garnered $77,000 for the Camano Lutheran Childcare Center upgrade of fire suppression systems to meet new licensing requirements. Local media reported that Camano Island is already a childcare desert as an innovative outdoor program was halted by local officials.
“A county commissioner reached out to me with a last-minute request that was missing in the Senate’s original proposal, and I worked hard to ensure a safe environment to learn in a part of our district facing struggles with childcare access,” said Muzzall.
Significant investments include:
- $93,000 for an increase in beds at the Ituha Stabilization Facility
- $600,000 for historic preservation of the Langley Library
- $100,000 for the Stanwood Police Station
“We’ve also had the opportunity to reappropriate some funds from previous years for shovel-ready projects,” Muzzall added. “Jensen Park in Arlington will see an investment of $273,000 this year so that the community can have a safer, more welcoming public space.”
Click here to find a complete list of funded projects in the 2024 supplemental capital budget.