EVERETT — As of Thursday, Everett Community College is a step closer to securing $10 million to buy properties on which to provide parking for the new Learning Resource Center and a future Baker Hall replacement.

The state Board of Community and Technical Colleges unanimously backed EvCC’s request to finance up to $10 million in purchases through a lease-financing agreement, and use local dollars to pay off bond-like certificates.

State board members included it in the construction budget request submitted to Gov. Jay Inslee and state lawmakers for the entire community college system.

Leaders of Everett Community College will need to convince the governor and legislators to write it into the final version of the two-year capital budget to be cobbled together and enacted in the 2019 legislative session.

“We don’t have specific properties yet,” said Pat Sisneros, vice president of college services. “We’re looking to expand the campus footprint.”

Trustees, over the objections of some faculty and students, voted in October to relocate the Learning Resource Center across Broadway in the former College Plaza shopping center. Design work is underway.

Everett Community College leaders also are hoping to receive $45.4 million in the construction budget to build the Learning Resource Center that will house its library and academic center.

A replacement for Baker Hall is also planned for construction on the college-owned property across the street from the main campus in north Everett. The college is seeking $2.85 million in the state capital budget for design work.

Inslee is slated to release his budget proposal Dec. 13. It will be a starting point for budget writers in the House and Senate who will issue their plans in late March or early April.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos