Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Legislative Session topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State grants $1 million for Lakefront Park; city staff warned of tighter capital and transportation budgets
Summary
City legislative representative Shelly Helder told the council that Lake Forest Park secured $1 million in the state capital budget for phase 1 of Lakefront Park, but other transportation requests were not funded and the legislature faced large shortfalls that restrained spending.
Shelly Helder, who represented Lake Forest Park in Olympia during the 2025 legislative session, told the City Council on May 22 that the final state capital budget included $1 million for phase 1 of the city’s Lakefront Park project.
Helder said the city’s application — supported by staff fact sheets and the local legislative delegation — was included in the Local Community Projects Program and survived final budget negotiations despite a constrained capital budget.
Why it matters: The capital budget was smaller than in past biennia and the legislature faced a multibillion-dollar shortfall that limited new project funding. Lake Forest Park’s award exceeds the program’s recent average award and gives the city a now-confirmed state funding source to obligate for the lakefront project.
Helder summarized the fiscal context the legislature faced: a $15 billion projected shortfall over four years that forced lawmakers to balance cuts and new revenues. She said the 2025–27 operating budget is about $77.8 billion and that the capital budget dropped to roughly $7.5 billion, leaving less capacity for local projects overall. Helder added that the transportation budget likewise faced a $1 billion shortfall and that some projects previously awarded funding were pushed into future biennia.
On specific city priorities, Helder reported: the House capital budget initially contained no funding for Lakefront Park while the Senate proposed $1 million; after reconciliation the final budget retained the $1 million allocation for Lakefront Park. Two other city requests tied to State Route 104 did not receive funding: a $700,000 request for the SR 104 / Fortieth Place NE roundabout and a $16 million maintenance/preservation request for SR 104 Complete Streets elements.
Helder pointed to a favorable change in state transportation revenue rules: part of a 6¢ gas tax increase is indexed to inflation and the state expects to route an estimated $36.2 million to cities over the next six years based on population distribution. She also noted a $10 million increase to the Complete Streets Grant Program administered by the Transportation Improvement Board.
Helder summarized other statewide outcomes the city tracked: the legislature passed House Bill 1217 capping rent increases at 7% per year; Senate Bill 5814 reduces parking requirements but applies only to cities with populations over 30,000 (not Lake Forest Park); the state invested in the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Program; and a proposal to redirect local traffic-camera revenue to the State Motor Vehicle Fund was defeated in committee.
Helder said the legislature did not lift the 1% property-tax growth cap after concerns from the governor and other legislators; however, lawmakers did create a new local criminal-justice funding tool under House Bill 2015 that allows a councilmanic one‑tenth of 1% sales tax for criminal-justice purposes and included $100 million in state grants for local law enforcement.
Council members thanked Helder and asked staff to prepare a letter or event recognizing Senator Stanford, Representative Dewar and Representative Clovea for their work on the Lakefront Park appropriation. Helder emphasized the importance of obligating awarded funds promptly so projects remain funded during a tight capital environment.
Ending: Council members and staff said they will follow up to thank the district’s legislators and begin the local steps needed to obligate the Lakefront Park award and plan next steps for state grant applications.
