April 9, 2025
Chronicle Excerpt
Following 40 minutes of testimony from United Learning Center (ULC) stakeholders and community members, the Centralia City Council on Tuesday night approved the transfer of $1.5 million from the city budget’s general fund to complete construction of the project.
Stakeholders from United Way of Lewis County, Discover! Children’s Museum and Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County spoke passionately about what the completion of the ULC will provide for the community prior to the council’s 6-0 vote at its April 8 meeting. Construction has been recently halted as the project’s partners await final National Environmental Policy Act approval in order to receive federal funding. About $4 million has been awarded to the project through the federal government.
City staff proposed supporting the first phase of the ULC construction by using $1.5 million from general funds set aside for capital projects to alleviate a short-term cash flow shortage. City Manager Michael Thomas said the funding is not additional money; the city is retaining its real estate excise tax (REET) funds that have constraints as to how they are spent and replacing them with more-flexible general fund dollars.