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Bothell lobbyist outlines mixed results for city projects as legislature nears finish
Summary
A monthly legislative update to the Bothell City Council covered state budget proposals and where the city’s priority projects stand, and flagged a Senate bill that would change the Public Works Assistance Account’s revenue stream.
Shelley Helder, the City of Bothell’s lobbyist, told the City Council on April 1 that the state legislature’s competing House and Senate budget proposals left some of the city’s capital priorities in different places.
Helder said the House capital budget included $1.5 million for the Woodcrest utility improvement project, below the city’s $1.9 million request, while the Senate capital budget included no funding for the project. She said the city’s $400,000 request for the 80th Avenue shared-use path is listed as eligible for future funding in the Senate transportation budget but not funded in the House version. The Bothell Way multimodal project had $7 million previously awarded; the House proposal would push $5 million of that into a later biennium, while the Senate would retain the funding for the upcoming biennium, Helder said.
The update also flagged proposed changes to the Public Works Assistance Account in Senate Bill 5804. Helder said both chambers’ budgets would “sweep” cash from the account and backfill with state bonds, but the Senate proposal would go further by diverting the dedicated revenue streams that currently flow into the account (she mentioned the real estate excise tax and a stormwater fee among the revenue sources) to the State General Fund. That change would, in her words, “essentially” remove the account’s dedicated revenue stream and leave future support to direct appropriation and loan repayments.
City staff and council members asked for clarification about what projects currently rely on Public Works assistance loans. City staff listed several active projects that have used or been awarded loans, including fish passage and stream restoration tied to a 31st Avenue NE (30 First Fifth Avenue NE) project and other capital work the city is using this account to finance. Staff cautioned that, if revenues are diverted, the account’s cash flow could delay reimbursements for already-awarded projects.
Why it matters: Bothell requested $1.9 million in capital funds and has partial or uncertain support depending on which chamber’s budget survives negotiations. Changes to the Public Works Assistance Account could affect project schedules and the city’s ability to receive reimbursements for work already awarded.
Council members pressed for continued staff engagement with state lawmakers and noted that the legislature has until April 27 to finish the session; Helder said the “opposite chamber” cutoff was the next day. City Manager and staff said they are tracking the bills and will return to council if additional action is needed.
Ending: Helder said she will continue to monitor the final budget and that staff will return with updates; the city manager said staff may come back to council for problem-solving if changes threaten project delivery.
