bonding bill

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.

It's expected that a $500 million bonding bill will be part of the deal struck between Governor Mark Dayton and Republican Legislative Leaders. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says he expects St. Cloud to get some of that money for the Civic Center parking ramp.

With just hours left in this year's state legislative session, it doesn't look like there will be a bonding bill this year. However, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis hasn't given-up hope. Kleis says he still believes a bonding bill could be part of the budget balancing solution during a special session.

A House bonding committee is taking up a $28 million proposal for flood-relief projects from Austin to Roseau. Tuesday's hearing in the House Capital Investment Committee comes as Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's recommendation for $1 billion in state borrowing has gone nowhere in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Governor Mark Dayton spent some time on Thursday afternoon talking with WJON news about a variety of issues. The State Legislature is on Passover/Easter break this week. He says they'll have a lot of work to get done with they return to the Capitol on Tuesday, but he says it's been a good session so far.

Gov. Mark Dayton is working to renew interest in a $1 billion plan for publicly financed building projects in Minnesota, saying the construction industry faces an "emergency situation." Dayton met Tuesday with architects, contractors and construction workers about the proposal, which stalled after he introduced it in January.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's $1 billion public works bill gets its first look in the Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday. The House Capital Investment Committee holds the first hearing on Dayton's recommendations for civic centers, college labs, flood protection, roads and bridges paid for by state-issued bonds.

The issue of a potential bonding bill bubbled up to the surface again this week when Governor Dayton unveiled his plan to spend $1 billion in construction projects. Representative O'Driscoll would prefer to first spend the money that's already been allocated. And Representative Hosch says he's disappointed Governor Dayton left the SCSU Science Lab out.

Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to call for about $1 billion in public works projects on Monday. The Democratic governor will unveil his recommendations for state-backed construction work at a morning news conference.

As the Minnesota Legislature deals with a $6-billion budget deficit, there are those who are hoping for a small bonding bill this year. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis is among them.