OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Bob Ferguson prepared to sign the state’s budget, but Washington State University’s (WSU) request for funding to expand its medical school was notably absent, drawing local attention.
WSU sought $37 million for the “Team Health Building,” a facility designed to bring nurses and doctors together for collaborative training. The expansion aimed to enhance healthcare education across Eastern Washington.
Despite hiring a contractor and planning to build, the state denied the funding.
Democratic Senator Marcus Riccelli expressed concern over the decision. “Health outcomes and life expectancy can depend on where you are,” he said. “So the way we fix that is by training the next generation. The way we don’t fix that is by cutting really important projects like the team health building at WSU out of our capital budget. So I’m ready to roll up my sleeves, work with the community and see if we can change that next session.”
Riccelli noted that WSU’s fluctuating requests between $50 million and $37 million contributed to budget writers’ concerns. He committed to securing the funding in the next legislative session’s supplemental budget, emphasizing the project’s importance to the region.
