Infrastructure funding continues to be one of cities’ most significant needs. In addition to asking the Legislature to fully fund the Public Works Board’s budget, we are asking the state to recommit to a portion of the historic revenue streams of the Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA) to address today’s statewide infrastructure priorities. The PWAA is a crucial funding partner in our efforts to provide the basic backbone of our communities.

HB 1680 and HB 1691 would end the REET and solid waste tax diversions from the account now rather than 2023. Both these proposals allow cities to partner with the state to address two critical needs. In HB 1680, we have proposed prioritizing restored REET revenues to use low interest financing for infrastructure to support housing by reducing the cost of new housing development. This will spur construction, create jobs, and address the housing crisis while making a long-term investment in our state. By restoring the solid waste tax in HB 1691, the PWAA can fund grants to make the necessary local culvert corrections to achieve the habitat restoration objectives of the state culvert injunction. Targeted investment in local infrastructure would be a means to accomplish these key state objectives.

Please contact your legislators and let them know how much these bills would help your city.

Dates to remember

HB 1680 and HB 1691 will be heard Tuesday, February 19 at 8 am in the House Capital Budget Committee.

The Senate Ways & Means Committee will hold a work session on the Public Works Assistance Account on Thursday, February 21 at 3:30.