Legislative Priorities
Washington Recreation & Park Association – 2018 Legislative Agenda
Top Priorities
Enact 2017-19 Capital Budget – Including Key Funding Targets for WWRP, YAF, ALEA
(Capital Budget) The two-year Capital Budget that is pending in the Washington State Legislature is much more than a document or a “bill.” It is a mission-critical, job-creating investment in the State of Washington, in outdoor recreation, in schools, and in local communities. WRPA urges the State Legislature to move forward with adoption of a 2017-19 Capital Budget, including agreed-upon allocations of $80 million for the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP) and $4.077 million for the Youth Athletic Facilities (YAF) program. The negotiated Capital Budget also includes a historically-low $1 million allocation for the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA). WRPA urges lawmakers to enhance funding for both ALEA and YAF in future cycles.
Protect Funding for Dedicated Accounts within the Capital Budget
(Capital Budget) As the Legislature looks to finalize a 2017-19 Capital Budget, WRPA urges lawmakers to refrain from diverting funding from dedicated accounts that are focused on funding outdoor recreation activities. These include the WWRP, YAF, and ALEA accounts, others such as the Boating Facilities Program (BFP) and Non-Highway Off-Road Vehicle Account (NOVA), and pass-through federal-funding accounts such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). WRPA urges lawmakers to keep top-of-mind a recent report study showing that the outdoor recreation sector generates $26 billion a year in economic activity for the state, as well as 200,000+ jobs.
