Small schools to benefit from subfund 

Cheney Free Press 

OLYMPIA – Small school districts will be able to create a depreciation subfund that can receive up to 2% of its general fund moneys each year.

The fund established under Senate Bill 5403, was signed into law Tuesday, May 9, by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Introduced by Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, the new law allows school districts with less than 2,000 students to set aside money for maintenance.

“After introducing it the past three years, it’s good to see this bill finally become law,” Schoesler said.

“It provides another way for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs. Sometimes it can be better for a school district to pay cash for a building repair or to set aside money for emergencies when they arise. Establishing this subfund, which is voluntary, is a way to help students learn in a healthy environment since school buildings will be in better condition.”

Schoesler represents the 9th Legislative District, which includes Cheney, Medical Lake and other area of southern Spokane County, as well as Lincoln, Whitman and portions of Adams and Franklin Counties, among others.

After passing Senate Bill 5403 unanimously in March, the Senate voted late in the regular session to unanimously support the version approved by the House, which makes the subfund option available only to school districts with fewer than 2,000 students.

During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, the Senate twice easily passed an earlier version of Schoesler’s bill. Senate Bill 5202 reached the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House voting calendar in both sessions before stalling.