State Parks says revenue is modestly up while capital spending focuses on reappropriated projects
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Summary
Washington State Parks told commissioners that biennium-to-date revenue is about 3.2% above projections—driven largely by camping and Discover Pass receipts—while capital spending is concentrated on reappropriated projects; staff warned the agency faces out‑year budget pressure and is tracking supplemental budget proposals due in mid‑March.
Washington State Parks told its commissioners on March 4 that revenue is tracking ahead of expectations for the current biennium even as the agency manages a portfolio of reappropriated capital projects and eyes possible reductions in supplemental budget proposals.
Business Support Services Director Laura Holmes said the State Building Construction Account reflects $113.3 million in appropriations, with about 41 percent tied to reappropriated projects that crossed biennia. Actual expenditures and obligations combined are roughly $46.5 million. Holmes said 105 capital projects are being tracked, about half of which are under construction or complete and 37 percent in design.
On the operating side, Holmes said the agency’s general operating and parks renewal funds total about $234.7 million and spending is about 27 percent of the way through the budget at the seven‑month mark of the biennium. "For the first seven months here, we're tracking a little higher than expected," she said, noting December was 12 percent above projections and January about 2.5 percent above.
Holmes emphasized that most of the agency’s revenue—roughly 73 to 77 percent—comes from overnight stays, camping and the Discover Pass. She said Discover Pass revenue is about 4.6 percent above projections for the first seven months and that fee changes last year contributed to higher collections.
Commissioner Holly Williams asked whether those fee-driven gains would offset reductions included in supplemental budget proposals; Holmes said early results suggest the increases help, but cautioned that some of the dollars in the current biennium were one‑time additions and that longer-term sustainability is not yet settled.
Holmes also said that the House and Senate supplemental proposals are largely aligned and that staff expect a negotiated final budget by about March 12; one notable difference she flagged was state‑tribal facilitation funding included in the Senate plan but not the House version. She said agency analysts are reviewing both proposals to minimize negative impacts.
The update included visitation data: calendar‑year 2025 saw about 40.7 million recreation visits, roughly flat compared with recent years. Holmes said she will brief commissioners again once the Legislature and governor finalize supplemental budget action.
The commission followed with questions about prioritizing work to spend down reappropriated capital dollars and about how one‑time revenues should be factored into planning. Holmes said staff are focusing on projects with existing funding and work under way so reappropriated dollars will be spent where possible by the biennium’s end, though permitting could delay some projects.