Inslee signs final transportation budget, warns of tough sledding
As Gov. Jay Inslee prepared to sign the last transportation spending plan of his 12-year tenure Thursday, he described the bumpy road ahead for lawmakers and his successor.
“Revenues are going to be strained for building roadways, preservation and maintenance, and improving highway infrastructure,” he said. “Project costs are increasing due to inflation, supply chain issues and competition for contractors.”
This budget, he said, “sets a direction for some big conversations.” It tackles immediate funding challenges while recognizing “additional solutions will be necessary” in future sessions.
A measure on the November ballot adds another layer of financial uncertainty. Initiative 2117, if approved by voters, would repeal the Climate Commitment Act, which, so far, has generated more than a billion dollars for transportation spending from the auction of pollution allowances. And it’s counted on to provide hundreds of millions of dollars for years to come.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/03/28/inslee-signs-final-transportation-budget-warns-of-tough-sledding/
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