Dayton Pitches $1.4 Billion Construction Borrowing Package

ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton is asking lawmakers to borrow $1.4 billion to tackle a massive to-do list of public construction projects.

The Democratic governor released his proposed bonding bill on Friday. It includes millions of dollars for upkeep at public universities, rehab projects at state parks and water infrastructure upgrades.

But Dayton's proposal also put a sharp focus on public safety, with money to expand prisons amid overcrowding concerns and to build less-restrictive facilities for sex offenders. Dayton noted that will be a tough sell to lawmakers wary of appearing soft on crime.

But he says it's necessary given a federal judge's order requiring fixes for a program that's been deemed unconstitutional.

The Legislature will have its own ideas for how much to spend when they return in early March.