Bonding Bill Resurrected, Sent to Governor

A capital investment bonding bill was resurrected in the waning hours of the 2018 legislative session and given its final Senate approval Sunday, May 20, before being approved by the House. The $1.43 billion dollar package was sent to Governor Dayton, and it is unknown if he will sign the revised plan.

As previously considered by the Senate, the bill authorizes the sale of $825 million dollars in bonds, but the measure also includes the sale of $416 million dollars in trunk highway bonds. Other sources of revenue brings the total to $1.431 billion dollars, and the higher amount, coupled with the various statewide projects, earned the 41 required votes for Senate passage.

The plan provides $79.4 million dollars to the University of Minnesota and $129 million dollars to Minnesota State. It also provides $25 million dollars in school safety grants, which were a high priority for legislators following the recent school shootings. Other significant funds boost the Corridors of Commerce program, which improves heavily used highways. About $64.3 million dollars is designated for several wastewater treatment and infrastructure improvements throughout Minnesota. Another $90 million dollars is geared for housing and another $28 million dollars for regional mental health crisis centers.

"This bill is going to put a lot of people to work, no question about it," said Capital Investment Chair David Senjem, R-Rochester, as he urged lawmakers to support the measure. Senator Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, decried the lack of transit funding in the bill. "What this bill says is that we just don't care," he said. "The governor proposed $50 million dollars in this bill. Zero showed up. "