Budget maintains 10LD projects, adds health clinic funding

OLYMPIA — The 2008 budget approved by the Legislature maintains approximately $15 million in projects throughout the 10th Legislative District, and includes $2.25 million in funding for new projects requested by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island.

“I’m glad that the Legislature has decided to keep its promise to fund previously established projects in our area like the Land Trust Transfer properties and the Freeland Sewer District,” said Haugen. “These are things that local communities need, but can’t afford to fund entirely on their own — I’m glad we managed to keep those kinds of items in the budget.”

Haugen also managed to secure new funding in the 2008 Supplemental Capital Budget for several local projects, including $500,000 for the Camano Community Health Clinic.

“Sen Haugen has done a great job of supporting our project,” said Dr. Roger Case, a health officer for Island County. “This is funding will be crucial to helping the Camano Community Health Clinic serve the citizens of Camano Island.”

Other local projects to receive new funding in the Capital Budget this year are the Skagit County Digester, which will receive $500,000 to help construct a anaerobic biodigester to convert farm waste into energy, and farmland conservation projects at Ebey’s Reserve and Useless Bay in Island County, which will receive a total of $1.25 million to ensure that working agricultural lands are preserved rather threatened by development.

Earlier this session, the Legislature passed several bills sponsored by Haugen which provide economic assistance or funding to several area programs or projects.

Senate Bill 6195 ensures that Island County is considered “rural” for economic development purposes, which will provide it with an immediate payment of $80,000 and enhanced eligibility for future rural economic development programs.

Senate Bill 6275 provides $150,000 for the Western Washington Agriculture Association to implement drainage maintenance plans.

Senate Bill 6532 relieves the City of Oak Harbor from having to pay $50,000 per year to the Department of Natural Resources for aquatic lands they lease for the Oak Harbor Marina, which the city hopes to instead use for marina improvements.

Senate Bill 6806 provides a six year property and leasehold excise tax exemption for farmers who invest in anaerobic digesters, also known as biodigesters. A tax incentive established in 2003 to encourage the production of biodiesel and alcohol fuels did not include anaerobic digesters, but their growing potential for agricultural waste reduction and to generate electricity was something Haugen thought was worth investing in.

These budget items, as well as those in the 2008 Supplemental Capital Budget, are in addition to funds in the 2008 Conference Transportation Budget approved by the Legislature earlier in the week, which secured funding for local highway improvement projects, new ferry construction, and additional runs of the Keystone – Port Townsend run during the busy summer months.

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