Leavenworth Under Consideration for Congressional Funding

Leavenworth is under consideration for congressional funding. A new process for House Appropriation Bills includes funding for local projects, said Elizabeth Carlson, Communications Director for Congresswoman Kim Schrier.

 

A board of people throughout the district reviewed all projects that were submitted to Schrier’s office, Carlson said. Around 80 projects were submitted for Community Project Funding (CPF) and the board narrowed down the strongest projects and presented those to Schrier. Schrier submitted the top ten projects to the House Appropriations Committee for further funding consideration. 

 

One percent of discretionary funding is used for House Appropriations every year, Carlson said. This year, the Community Project Funding process was created to target specific community needs and solve local issues.

 

Leavenworth submitted A Place 4 Alice, a project for affordable housing and recreational equipment, according to Schrier’s website. The funding would create housing that is preserved as affordable through a land trust designation and eligible buyers would buy and maintain the homes. 

 

The funds would also be used to construct a new playground or rehabilitate an existing one, create sports fields, and a year-round pool. Leavenworth’s current pool would be outfitted with a retractable metal roof so it could be used year round, said Christie Voos, Communications Analyst for the City of Leavenworth. 

 

Within the name of the proposal, A Place 4 Alice, “Alice” is an acronym. It stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and represents the 40 to 50% of people in Leavenworth who live in poverty or with limited resources for housing. The proposal states that it plans to create three housing units, one to two sports fields, one playground, and a year-round pool. 

 

Kim Schrier, U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th Congressional District, said that the ability for members of Congress to designate appropriation dollars to local projects went away several years ago. Instead, the appropriation money went to a general fund, the state or to bureaucrats in Washington D.C. who would decide how to allocate the money. 

 

This year, Schrier said, the process changed so members of Congress can work with community members, mayors and leaders to decide the most impactful way to direct that money. 

 

“Rather than having money go to Seattle, for example, we make sure that those tax dollars stay right here at home in the 8th district,” said Schrier.

 

Six of the ten CPF project finalists are included in other House Appropriations bills, Carlson said. After that, the bill goes to the House of Representatives. If passed by the House, the bill still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the President. 

 

The CPF projects are part of a longer Appropriations bill, Schrier said. The bill specifies a number of places appropriations money will go to. Some of the money will be spent on the community projects while others will go to programs like Head Start, environmental programs and housing programs. 

 

Schrier said that she thinks the bill will pass the House. The challenge will be to get 60 votes in the Senate to get the bill passed, she said. Schrier is working to make sure that all CPF’s are included in the final bill that could be signed by the President.

 

If the funding does get pushed through, the current pool could be used year round because it would have a retractable roof. If the current pool could be used year round, it brings up questions about whether there is a need for a future indoor pool at the former Osborn property.

 

If the current pool was able to be used year round, some residents indicated that they would not want two pools and would only want the current pool to operate, Voos said.  Other residents expressed interest in having two pools. 

 

Both the future of CPF funding and the future of the Osborn property are undecided. If A Place 4 Alice gets funded through the House Appropriations bill, ideas for future use of the Osborn property may change. But first, the bill has to be passed.