Olympia presents updated $412.5 million capital plan

A preliminary Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) for 2027-32 proposes $412.5 million in projects, including $82.3 million in 2027, for the City of Olympia.

The funding total is driven in part by major parks projects and a bond for the proposed expansion of Hands On Children’s Museum.  

City Planner Casey Shaufler presented the draft CFP to the Olympia Finance Committee during a meeting on Monday, Aug. 17.

The proposed CFP is a revised version of a draft published on Aug. 3. The city released the revised document on Aug. 13.

The revised plan is up from the $391.6 million included in the original version. The 2027 capital budget also increased to $82.3 million from $70.3 million.  

Schaufler said the revisions resulted from corrected table formulas and updates to individual project line items.  

2027 budget 

Parks, arts and recreation account for the largest share of 2027 capital funding at about $25 million. The majority of the funding is made up of general bond issuances, state grants, impact fees and funds from Olympia Metropolitan Parks District. Some of the projects highlighted in the presentation include:

• Phase 1 and 2 work at the Daley Art Center, formerly known as the Olympia Armory

• Phase 1 construction of Jolene Unsoeld Community Park, formerly known as Yelm Highway Park 

• Phase 1 design for Rebecca Howard Park 

• Relocation of the Japanese Garden 

• Downtown flood mitigation and Percival Landing planning

General facilities also show funding of roughly $14.3 million in 2027. The largest item is bond funding for a proposed expansion of the Hands On Children’s Museum. Other projects included re-roofing and elevator replacement at Olympia Center and upgrades at several city facilities.  

Transportation projects total about $13.7 million and would be funded through a mix of Real Estate Excise Tax revenue, Transportation Benefit District dollars, impact fees, and state and federal grants.  

Proposed transportation work includes street calming projects, corridor safety improvements, school zone updates, enhanced crosswalks, bike corridor connections, sidewalk repairs and connections, and street resurfacing.  

Aging infrastructure 

The capital plan also includes major investments in water, wastewater and stormwater systems.  

Drinking water projects total $4.9 million in 2027, including some aging water main replacements, seismic valves for transmission mains, small-diameter water main replacements, pressure reducing valves and improvements to a booster station.  

Wastewater projects total approximately $5.8 million. Planned work includes cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation, a Kaiser-area septic system replacement and 4th Avenue sewer construction.  

The plan also includes work to Glenmore Village from septic systems to the city’s standard sewer system. 

Stormwater, waste facilities 

Storm and surface water projects total about $3.7 million in 2027. Planned work includes Percival Creek riparian restoration, peak flow reduction, a 4th Avenue facility, pipe replacement at Plum Street and Legion Way, a dedicated camera truck for inspecting stormwater lines, and a green-stormwater retrofit at Rogers Street and Hayes Avenue.

The city is also planning a new maintenance facility for its waste resources utility on Carpenter Road near Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center.  

The proposed facility would replace operations currently housed at Public Works Maintenance Center on Eastside Street, which was built in 1976 and is operating at or beyond capacity.  

The Carpenter Road site previously contained an abandoned firing range and required environmental cleanup. The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a “no further action” determination in early 2025 following remediation.  

The project is expected to cost roughly $50 million. About $11 million in utility revenue is included in the first five years of the plan, with the remaining financing expected to be spread over a longer period through debt repayment.  

Fire department

The Olympia Fire Department is proposing about $9.5 million in capital projects over the six-year period.  

The plan is to purchase or replace eight fire apparatus units, remodel two fire stations and construct a new station.  

Proposed apparatus includes Basic Life Support transport units, a ladder truck, a fire engine, a brush truck and a vehicle for the technical rescue special operations team.  

The fire facilities and apparatus are expected to require general obligation debt supported by voter-approved property tax levies.  

Schedule 

The Olympia Planning Commission Finance Subcommittee is expected to conduct a detailed review of the plan. The commission will then hold a public hearing on the CFP plan on Sept. 21.  

The city council is scheduled for a full CFP briefing on Sept. 15, with a public hearing planned for Oct. 27.