SCSU Gets $42 Million, Civic Center Gets Nothing In Latest Bonding Bill

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The Minnesota Legislature has approved $498 million in state borrowing for construction projects including $131 million for the Minnesota Colleges and University system and another $88 million for University of Minnesota campuses.

The decision to issue construction bonds was part of a larger budget deal between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislators to end a state government shutdown. Republicans had previously resisted widespread bonding this year but Dayton had argued it would help create jobs.

The package includes $51 million for a new physics building at the University of Minnesota, $42 million for a new science and engineering laboratory at St. Cloud State University, $50 million for flood control projects around the state, and $56 million for transportation projects with more than half to local bridge replacement and repairs.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)