As state lawmakers ponder bonding legislation to build and repair schools, parks and rail lines, Building Trades union members will be watching closely. Investment in infrastructure is important to everyone, but it directly affects the number of jobs for construction workers.
"It's no secret that the Building Trades workers in the state of Minnesota look at the bonding bill as a real source of their livelihood and in that vein, it's never big enough," said Dick Anfang, president of the Minnesota Building & Construction Trades Council. "But in reality, this one could and should be bigger."
Anfang referred to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's $897 million bonding proposal, which includes many projects important to lawmakers and organized labor, but excludes others. The governor's proposal forms the basis for debate in the legislative session, which started March 1. Lawmakers of both parties see a bonding bill as a centerpiece of the session and hope to adopt a bill by the time they adjourn in May.
The state uses bonding to finance construction projects, with the costs financed by selling state-backed bonds to investors who would be repaid over 20 years. Passing the bonding bill traditionally is the Legislature's most important issue in even-numbered years. During odd-numbered years, lawmakers traditionally set the state's overall two-year budget.
The state Finance Department says Minnesota can afford a bonding bill as high as $990 million without exceeding its debt capacity limit.
The most money in the bonding bill is likely to be spent on construction at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU). Lawmakers also will consider funding a light-rail-transit line between the St. Paul and Minneapolis downtowns, bus rapid-transit lines running north from Apple Valley and Lakeville, prison expansions in Stillwater and Faribault, and major improvements at the Minnesota Zoo.
Anfang said the governor's proposal does not meet the needs of the state's higher educational systems.
"The education requests from MNSCU and the University of Minnesota ? in my opinion I think they've been very straightforward about what they really need," he said. "I don't think they're inflated. I don't think they're underestimated."
In addition to boosting funding for educational facilities, Anfang said the governor's proposal left out other important needs ? such as repairs to the state Capitol.
"There's a greater need for taking care of deferred maintenance, new facilities, even our state Capitol. . . It's falling into severe disrepair. It should be important to this governor."
Other projects supported by the Building Trades include expansion of the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center and construction of the North Star commuter rail line from the Twin Cities to Big Lake.
Bonding for infrastructure can be viewed as a cost, but it's also an investment, Anfang said. He described that investment as a case of "pay me now, or pay me later." Costs continue to rise, especially because of a growing worldwide shortage of construction materials like wood and cement.
"We've just come through a very extended period of low interest rates when we could have and didn't bond higher," he noted. "Every day, time is money. You're not moving forward when you're stagnant. Mother Nature doesn't stop. She's out there taking her toll" on facilities and infrastructure.
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As state lawmakers ponder bonding legislation to build and repair schools, parks and rail lines, Building Trades union members will be watching closely. Investment in infrastructure is important to everyone, but it directly affects the number of jobs for construction workers.
“It’s no secret that the Building Trades workers in the state of Minnesota look at the bonding bill as a real source of their livelihood and in that vein, it’s never big enough,” said Dick Anfang, president of the Minnesota Building & Construction Trades Council. “But in reality, this one could and should be bigger.”
Anfang referred to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s $897 million bonding proposal, which includes many projects important to lawmakers and organized labor, but excludes others. The governor’s proposal forms the basis for debate in the legislative session, which started March 1. Lawmakers of both parties see a bonding bill as a centerpiece of the session and hope to adopt a bill by the time they adjourn in May.
The state uses bonding to finance construction projects, with the costs financed by selling state-backed bonds to investors who would be repaid over 20 years. Passing the bonding bill traditionally is the Legislature’s most important issue in even-numbered years. During odd-numbered years, lawmakers traditionally set the state’s overall two-year budget.
The state Finance Department says Minnesota can afford a bonding bill as high as $990 million without exceeding its debt capacity limit.
The most money in the bonding bill is likely to be spent on construction at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU). Lawmakers also will consider funding a light-rail-transit line between the St. Paul and Minneapolis downtowns, bus rapid-transit lines running north from Apple Valley and Lakeville, prison expansions in Stillwater and Faribault, and major improvements at the Minnesota Zoo.
Anfang said the governor’s proposal does not meet the needs of the state’s higher educational systems.
“The education requests from MNSCU and the University of Minnesota ? in my opinion I think they’ve been very straightforward about what they really need,” he said. “I don’t think they’re inflated. I don’t think they’re underestimated.”
In addition to boosting funding for educational facilities, Anfang said the governor’s proposal left out other important needs ? such as repairs to the state Capitol.
“There’s a greater need for taking care of deferred maintenance, new facilities, even our state Capitol. . . It’s falling into severe disrepair. It should be important to this governor.”
Other projects supported by the Building Trades include expansion of the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center and construction of the North Star commuter rail line from the Twin Cities to Big Lake.
Bonding for infrastructure can be viewed as a cost, but it’s also an investment, Anfang said. He described that investment as a case of “pay me now, or pay me later.” Costs continue to rise, especially because of a growing worldwide shortage of construction materials like wood and cement.
“We’ve just come through a very extended period of low interest rates when we could have and didn’t bond higher,” he noted. “Every day, time is money. You’re not moving forward when you’re stagnant. Mother Nature doesn’t stop. She’s out there taking her toll” on facilities and infrastructure.