Capital Budget Update

The Legislature has still not passed a capital budget, and there is no indication when a budget might be passed. With no capital budget in place, State Parks will have to delay new construction and essential deferred maintenance projects. This includes replacing, upgrading or improving water, wastewater and electrical systems and delays in efforts to provide ADA access to facilities at parks throughout the state. For Lake Sammamish, specifically, the lack of a capital budget means the Sunset Beach picnic area construction will be delayed, as will the replacement bridge over Laughing Jacobs Creek.

In addition to projects being delayed, Washington State Parks faces laying off  16 permanent employees who are paid through the capital budget.