State Budget: The Wins and Losses in the 2019 Legislative Session

Now that the 2019 legislative session has officially ended and the budgets are unveiled, here is what unfolded in terms of WTA’s priorities this year. 

DNR is facing some funding losses this year with the reallocation of Discover Pass Revenues and low capital funding. Photo of Gothic Basin, a DNR-managed land, by trip reporter DonPromdi.

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

What we requested: Fund the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) requests for outdoor recreation, including $3.9 million for the Outdoor Recreation and Community Engagement program, $444,000 (operating) for the Natural Areas Program and $8.5 million (capital) for the Sustainable Recreation program. This money funds many things, including hiring full-time employees to maintain trails, improving trailheads and installing shiny new toilets.

What actually made the budget: The Sustainable Recreation program was funded at $2 million — a compromise between the House and Senate proposals — below the $8.5 million requested. This will limit the number of new projects DNR can complete in the future. In better news, with $1.856 million allocated to the Teanaway Community Forest, support for the area is as healthy as ever. 

Verdict: Low capital funding is not the state support we hoped for. However, we were pleased to see the Teanaway Community Forest — an area we’ve worked on for years — funded at a slightly higher level than requested. Overall, we hope this budget does not negatively impact access to outdoor recreation.

While State Parks didn't get all the money requested, there were good allocations for maintaining lands and trails. Mount Spokane State Park, photo by Tara Burke. 

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS

What we requested: We supported the Washington State Parks’ $196 million (operating) and $120.6 million (capital) budget requests, including the following specific line items:

• $9.05 million (operating) to protect and maintain park properties
• $4.78 million (operating) to meet customer expectations,
• $951,000 (operating) to engage youth and communities
• $130.2 million (capital) for new projects and critical funding reappropriations.

These funds were needed to help reduce the more than $500 million deferred maintenance backlog for state parks, and support things like road and trail maintenance.

What actually made the budget: Of the $130.2 million requested for capital (new) projects, $35.4 million was funded. State Parks is also impacted by a transfer of revenues — this time from the litter tax. Instead of funding State Parks to maintain park services with state money, revenues will be transferred over, leaving them $5 million short of the funds needed. State Parks also received:

• $10 million to maintain park services
• $1.5 million for preventative maintenance to address the backlog
• $300,000 for customer service

The funding will help State Parks to continue programs that can help keep recreation areas open and sustainable for hikers. They received $3 million for a new Nisqually State Park, and will have the rest of their capital funding to work on repair and preservation projects statewide.

Verdict: We're concerned by transferring funds away from State Parks. However, State Parks did receive healthy allocations to maintain their lands and trails. 

We're excited to see funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which helps fund trails, among other projects. Long Beach State Park, photo by Mary OHaver.

WASHINGTON WILDLIFE AND RECREATION PROGRAM

What we requested: Fund the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition’s $130 million (capital) budget request for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, a critical funding source for hiking trails and the largest source of funding for bike and ski trails in Washington.

What actually made the budget: The final capital budget included $85 million in funding for WWRP, the second-highest amount it has ever received. It will support key projects in areas like Raging River State Forest, Tiger Mountain and Green Mountain. It will even pay for new toilets in Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area!

Verdict: This is a win! This funding will allow more than 100 high-priority conservation and recreation projects to move forward.

No Child Left Inside is vital to supporting the next generation of outdoor steward. Photo by Britt Le.

NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE

What we requested: Fund $1.5 million (operating) for the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office to oversee this program. No Child Left Inside provides grants to support efforts to get kids outside.

What actually made the budget: No Child Left Inside received the full $1.5 million requested in the budget.

Verdict: Another win! We are relieved to see this extremely valuable program receive the funding it needs and deserves. With $8 million in requested grants this year alone, however, we have work to do to ensure there is no unmet need in the future.

Beyond the Budget

Of course, there’s more to the four months of the legislative session than getting a budget passed.

The HEAL Act: A disappointment

We were sad to see the HEAL Act (SB 5489), a bill that would have put Washington and its state land agencies on the front line of environmental justice, not make it through.

Public Lands Day: A big win!

Two members of WTA's advocacy team (second from left and third from right) attended the bill signing for Public Lands Day with Gov. Jay Inslee on April 30.

We are happy to celebrate the addition of the state’s newest holiday, Public Lands Day (HB 1449). Public Lands Day is now the fourth Saturday in September. WTA championed this bill every step of the way, and thanks to the support of hikers like you, we did it. Public Lands Day unanimously passed both chambers of the state's legislature and was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, but it wouldn't have happened without the support the bill's sponsor, Rep. Strom Peterson.

Be sure to take a minute right now to tell him how much his support of public lands and trails in Washington means to you. Letting him know that you are paying attention and thankful for his support can encourage him —and other lawmakers — to pass even legislation to help public lands in the future.

Why is Public Lands Day so exciting? Besides celebrating places we love, this legislation:

• Recognizes the positive impacts that our public lands have on people's physical and mental well-being
• Celebrates how important public lands are to our state and local economies
• Provides an opportunity for organizations to mobilize hikers to become great stewards of our trails and lands
• Encourages folks who may not usually engage in outdoor recreation to explore our public lands

Make sure to mark your calendars for Sept. 28, 2019, and plan to get outside for Washington's first ever Public Lands Day!

This session did not bring us not everything we had hoped and worked for, but there's some forward momentum which energizes us to keep pushing next session.

Hikers celebrate on the Capitol steps in Olympia on Hiker Rally Day in February. Photo by Britt Le.

THANK YOU TO THE WTA COMMUNITY

Most importantly, we couldn’t have had such important wins if it wasn’t for you! In just 4 months, you collectively sent almost 13,000 emails to state lawmakers. While the budget didn't swing totally in favor of public lands, there's no doubt that you speaking up about concerns has an impact. And 150 of you spent the day in Olympia for Hiker Rally Day in February.

This adds up to incredible activism. We here at WTA are so proud of our superstar advocates, and you should be proud of yourselves. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.