Mayor Dana Ralph urges Legislature to fund local projects, cites $2 million request for Signature Point

Mayor Dana Ralph said in a weekly video update that Kent is pressing the Washington Legislature to advance local project funding before the session ends March 12. “I want to say thank you to Senator Kaufman who was able to work a $2,000,000 ask in for levy improvements at Signature Point,” Ralph said.

Ralph told viewers the city has been tracking “literally thousands of bills” and weighing how proposals will affect Kent. She described a transportation allocation that includes money for “the completion of the south 2 20 fourth quarter” but said that money was pushed out several years; she said Kent is asking lawmakers to move that funding into the current budget so the project can continue. “That money is allocated in the transportation budget, but was pushed out several years. We really would like to move that money forward into the current budget so we can keep working on that project,” Ralph said.

The mayor also said the city has again requested Climate Commitment Act funding for green improvements, specifically solar panels for the new Administrative Services building, and expressed disappointment that those funds were not included in the current budget proposals. “We’re gonna keep asking for it, until those budgets are passed,” she said.

Ralph framed the outreach as part of ongoing regional coordination: she spent a day with the Sound Cities Association to align priorities with other cities in King County and to track how state actions affect local zoning and services. She said Kent continues to engage daily with Olympia officials, urging residents to contact their legislators while session activity is still underway.

Next steps: Ralph said the city will continue pressing lawmakers through the remainder of the session, which she noted ends March 12.