Governor Dayton Signs Capital Improvements Bonding Bill

Governor Mark Dayton announced Wednesday, May 30, that he is signing the capital improvements bonding bill, which would launch about $1.3 billion dollars worth of construction projects throughout the state. The governor's action included one line-item veto of a $1 million dollar grant for reviewing the work of the Pollution Control Agency.

In a letter to legislative leaders, Dayton expressed his objections to the size of the bill, citing a lack of funds for higher education, state parks, and water infrastructure. Further, Dayton criticized the use of $98 million dollars in appropriation bonds through the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which is supported through the sale of lottery tickets. Dayton said that the bonding bill includes environmental projects that have not been approved by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, which recommends projects supported through the trust fund.

As signed into law, the bill includes about $825 million dollars through the sale of General Obligation Bonds. The money would be used for preserving state buildings and infrastructure, preserving assets at Minnesota's higher education institutions, constructing new veteran homes and building mental health centers.

The new law will also allow the sale of $417 million dollars in Trunk Highway Bonds for various road and bridge improvements throughout the state; however, the bill did not provide funding for transit projects.