State Sen. Jeff Wilson Highlights $125 Million in Proposed State Budget Funds for 19th District 

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After the state Senate passed a capital budget proposal on Friday, state Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, released a statement highlighting the funds for Southwest Washington. 

The capital budget bill, Senate Bill 5200, passed the state Senate unanimously by a vote 44 to 0. 

SB 5200 included $125 million for projects in the 19th legislative district, which Wilson represents. 

For Lewis County, which Wilson represents the western part of, the capital budget would include over $2.7 million for the Willapa Hills Trail, $2.5 million for the Lewis County Homeless Shelter in Chehalis and $640,000 for a drinking water project in Pe Ell.



The Willapa Hills Trail, a former railbed converted to a trail, was described in Wilson’s statement as being in “need of repair.” Under the proposed capital budget, $2.6 million would be appropriated for surfacing on the trail while another $125,000 would go to trailhead facilities. 

According to Wilson’s statement, the $2.5 million that would be earmarked for the Lewis County Homeless Shelter was secured in partnership with state Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia. The two worked to obtain an amendment on the Senate floor to obtain the funds for the shelter in Chehalis. The statement said the facility is supported by local elected officials and community members and provides homelessness services regionally. 

Additionally, $640,000 reserved for the Pe Ell drinking water project would go to the Lester Creek drinking water intake. 

The House is set to unveil its budget this week.