The state legislature had until the end of 2017 to pass a state capital budget.

If a capital budget wasn’t passed, grant monies for the 2017 grant cycle would have to wait until 2019 to be doled out. It’s now 2018, and the state legislature failed to pass one due to a long-running squabble over rural water rights legislation.

That’s bad news for South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District and the Freeland Water and Sewer District.

The parks district has been waiting for just over half a million dollars to kickstart construction on its proposed Community Park Campground. The district planned on beginning construction this year. Without the grant funding, the district will either have to wait until 2019 for the grant or find alternative funding sources.

The sewer district was also anticipating nearly $1.5 million in state funding for its Phase 1A sewer project. The project aims to more properly dispose treated effluent.

The $1.5 million is just a portion of the needed funds for the $12.9 million sewer project.