GHENT – Significant projects within District 16A and the surrounding region are among those signed into law Wednesday as part of a capital investment package featuring $825 million in general obligation bonds.
Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, said he is pleased with the finished product, which includes a $3.1 million appropriation for the Minnesota Emergency Response & Industrial Training Center in Marshall. Funding for a Lake Redwood dredging project Swedzinski said he supports also is provided. From a regional standpoint, Montevideo will receive a share of $32 million appropriated for the construction of three new veterans homes – pending federal match funding.
“I’m thankful the governor signed this bill,” Swedzinski said. “There are good projects for our area and good funding for infrastructure necessities such as roads and bridges. The key is that we stuck to our priorities so we can maintain the properties and facilities we own, while also respecting the taxpayers. That’s what made this a good bill that received 113 votes in the House.”
The bonding portion of the bill as presented to the governor included:
- $178 million for asset preservation
- $123 million for water-related projects
- $20 million for flood work
- $208 million for higher education construction
- $541 million for transportation
- $32 million for veterans homes in Preston, Bemidji, and Montevideo
- $28 million for mental health crisis centers
With funding such as trunk highway bonds included, the bill provides an additional $416 million for transportation.
Swedzinski noted the transportation funding provided in this bonding bill follows last year’s largest investment in road and bridge infrastructure in state history, with billions more for transportation in the next 10 years without an increase in the gas tax or license tab fees. The 2017 bonding bill alone provided $254.4 million for transportation projects, while other sources of funding such as a provision directing existing taxes on purchases of auto parts to roads and bridges also gained enactment.
“Once the dust settles on this biennium, it’s going to be very clear that we have had historic success in providing support for roads and bridges,” Swedzinski said. “We all agree that we want better roads and I am pleased we are going the extra mile to make that happen.”
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