Clark County Council Chair Sue Marshall said the 2025 state legislative session delivered critical funding for infrastructure, public safety and health-related projects, even amid a significant budget shortfall.
"I think overall, the county did pretty good, better than I would have thought given the looming deficit," Marshall said.
A top priority was continued funding for improvements to the I-5 and 179th Street interchange, a critical regional corridor. The project received $86 million from the state's transportation budget.
The project will eliminate traffic signals at on- and off-ramps and replace them with roundabouts to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. Construction is expected to span from 2024 to 2031.
"There's just so much traffic that moves through there and it's inadequately designed as it is," Marshall said. "Realigning that interchange will help the flow of traffic."
Another major win for the county was $1.5 million in capital budget funding to support design work for the county jail renovation project.
According to Marshall, the existing jail, built in 1984, is considered outdated and lacks the capacity and facilities to meet the county's growing population and increasing behavioral health needs. County officials say the expansion is necessary not only to relieve overcrowding but also to create space tailored for individuals dealing with substance use and mental health issues. Marshall noted that most of Clark County's legislative delegation toured the facility in person during the session, which helped convey the project's urgency.
"They're seeing firsthand the state of the jail, the needs it has, and really our vision for what support, rehabilitation and treatment work we want to provide," she said.
The $1.5 million allocation will fund early design work. The council has directed staff to develop long-term funding options to advance the project.
In the area of mental health services, the state also provided $595,000 over the next two years to support the Brockmann Campus, a 48-bed residential facility for patients with long-term mental illness. The funds will go toward maintaining the site and facilities.
The project is operated by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and is expected to open in 2025. Structures are already built, and final interior work is underway.
A separate $300,000 budget proviso was secured for continued lake management and water quality work at Vancouver Lake to address harmful algal blooms.
The Legislature also clarified state law around the use of existing mental health sales tax funds, which will now allow Clark County to support capital projects like the City of Vancouver's Bridge Shelter. The 150-bed congregate shelter aims to transition residents into permanent housing.
"It was a language clarification but [this] has a significant impact for what the county is able to do," Marshall said.
Marshall also pointed to House Bill 2015, which authorizes new state funding for law enforcement and public safety. The bill establishes a grant program and allows counties to implement a small sales tax to support additional deputies.
Some funding issues remained unresolved. The Columbia River Gorge Commission narrowly avoided elimination after an early proposal would have zeroed out state support. While the agency took a cut, most of its funding was preserved.
"If Washington had pulled the funding, Oregon would have reciprocated, and that would have been the end of the Gorge Commission," Marshall said. "It's a 40-year institution... so we were pleased to see it survive."
Marshall also said the county continues to support plans for a permanent law enforcement training facility in Southwest Washington, Ridgefield being a likely candidate. A temporary academy operates in a converted elementary school in Vancouver, but local leaders say a permanent site is needed to meet long-term training demands.
"There's a pipeline now, and thank goodness they were able to set it up quickly," Marshall said. "But we need a permanent facility. That's a high priority."
She confirmed the Clark County Council remains supportive of collaborating with cities for such a facility.
