Column: Kent legislator speaks on balancing budget

The Legislature recently adjourned the 2009 session and passed a responsible budget during one of the toughest economic times the state, and those who live in it, have seen in decades. Just like many working families across the state, lawmakers confronted a huge financial challenge. While facing more than a $9 billion revenue shortfall, my colleagues and I in the Senate and House left Olympia with a $31.5 billion balanced budget, albeit with deep cuts to state services, education and health care. Leadership is about leading in good times and in bad times – and there were plenty of difficult choices.

I’m happy to report that with funds in the transportation and construction budgets we will be able to start work on several important projects in our local area. I’ve heard from many constituents worried about flooding on the Green River and frustrated with our roads. There are some bright spots for South King County. I fought hard for important projects this session – they’re not only going to provide jobs, but they’ll provide much-needed improvements to our roads, our levees and our community.

Perhaps the single most important project that I worked for is fixing the Horseshoe Bend flood-control levee. It was built in the 1930s and is in need of serious attention. This past January’s very close call made it quite clear that floods can happen here. The levee is not designed to protect thousands of residents and their property, it also works to keep State Route 167, a major economic corridor, dry.

I fought to secure $800,000 in funding for the Auburn Boys & Girls Club so that they can renovate the Les Gove Community Center and make it their own – a place where young and old can come together. I’m excited to see the transformation of the center and the expansion of programs that will build community for both children and adults.

Too often, roads and transportation projects in South King County don’t get the attention they deserve, but this session, two significant projects I championed are moving forward. A $2 million project that will reduce backups in Covington by widening State Route 516 from Wax Road to 185th Avenue from two lanes to four, with a center turn lane. And at the same time as addressing that congestion, I secured $400,000 toward work to connect Maple Valley and Covington residents to Sounder trains and busses in Auburn via passenger rail cars that can use tracks that are already built. The project is in the development stage, and funding will commission a study to see if moving forward is a good investment of taxpayer dollars – and one that will mean real results for commuters.

I was able to move these projects forward because the state capital construction and transportation budget are legally separate from the operating budget, which saw the historic revenue shortfall.

Leadership for King County and for all of Washington is critical during times like these. We must make tough choices, but we must also make sure our state continues moving forward.