Last week the State Senate Capital Investment Committee toured local projects requesting bonding money. Today (Wednesday) it's the State House's turn to check out the projects.
St. Cloud State University is asking the State Legislature for bonding money to renovate an old building on campus. They're looking for $865,000 in next year's bonding bill to start planning the remodel of Eastman Hall.
The Minnesota House has defeated an $800 million construction projects bill that failed to win a needed super-majority. The bill is a rare area where Republican held veto power. Because it involves long-term state debt, it required 81 votes to pass.
A $109 million commitment to Capitol preservation is the biggest element of Gov. Mark Dayton plan for Minnesota-financed construction projects. His wish list outlined Monday also includes substantial funding for new labs at public universities, a new building on the Minneapolis Veterans Home campus and civic center improvements in Mankato, Rochester and St. Cloud.
State Capitol repairs, civic center expansions and veterans home upgrades are all expected to have a place in Gov. Mark Dayton's plan for Minnesota-financed construction projects. Dayton has dropped those hints and others ahead of Monday's official release of his wish list. He has said he would press for $750 million in state borrowing.
The Minnesota governor previewed elements of his roughly $750 million bonding proposal - which could include money for the River's Edge Convention Center.
A key Democratic lawmaker says within the next two weeks she will release a "robust" plan to borrow for public-purpose construction projects around Minnesota. House Capital Investment Committee Chairwoman Alice Hausman says her proposal will exceed the roughly $500 million plan Gov. Mark Dayton has suggested he will recommend.
Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a nearly $500 million public works package that includes money for college buildings, flood prevention and local roads and bridges. Dayton had wanted more projects as a boost to Minnesota's construction industry, but he said the bill was better than nothing as he signed it Friday.