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Lawmakers debate bonding, gas tax and ferry electrification as storm damage ramps up costs
Summary
Senators and representatives at a legislative preview split over whether to bond against new gas-tax receipts, how to prioritize bridge and ferry replacements, and whether Climate Commitment Act money should be reallocated to cover near-term storm damage and terminal electrification costs.
Senator Marco Lias, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, told reporters the state must "be careful about what we're buying with [bonded funds]," saying bonding should be reserved for assets that outlast the bond term rather than routine pavement maintenance.
The debate opened when host Jerry Cornfield asked whether Gov. Bob Ferguson's proposal to bond against revenues raised by last session's gas-tax and fee increases was the right path to raise roughly $3 billion for transportation preservation. Senator Curtis King said bonding for routine maintenance is not logical because routine repairs could be consumed…
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