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Centralia council approves $1.5 million transfer to finish United Learning Center building
Summary
After public testimony for and against, the Centralia City Council voted 6–0 (with one recusal) to transfer $1.5 million from the general fund to United Way of Lewis County to complete the United Learning Center building under construction downtown.
The Centralia City Council on Tuesday authorized a $1,500,000 transfer from the city general fund to the United Way of Lewis County to address a short-term cash‑flow gap and complete the United Learning Center (ULC) building currently under construction.
City Manager Mike Thomas told the council the transfer would “alleviat[e] a short term cash flow shortage” and is intended to replace a previously intended use of real‑estate excise tax (REIT) dollars that the city attorney and the Attorney General’s office had concluded could not be used for the project’s immediate needs. “This is a project for everyone in the community,” Thomas said during the presentation.
The ULC project combines an early learning center, a children’s museum, space for a future permanent Boys & Girls Club and other tenant services. Thomas said a national nonprofit partner has committed to fund tuition‑free preschool slots for up to 80 children, age 3–5, for a minimum of about 10 years; that partner requires occupancy by winter to proceed with…
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