A state bonding bill for millions of dollars in construction across Minnesota is a top priority for unions in the 2004 legislative session.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has proposed a $760 million package that includes many educational, transportation and governmental projects. It includes $76.6 million for projects at the University of Minnesota and $88.6 million for the Minnesota State Colleges and University System, only half of what those institutions say they need.

That is a concern for educators and for Building Trades unions, who will perform much of the work.

The U of M and MNSCU allocations ?are both very important to us,? said Dick Anfang, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. Hundreds of union members are employed by contractors who would be hired for repairs, renovation and new construction. In addition, hundreds of Building Trades members are directly employed by both university systems, he said.

Another key project in the bonding bill is $37.5 million for the Northstar Commuter Rail, a line that would run from the Twin Cities toward St. Cloud. Organized labor supports the commuter line as one way to address the growing congestion in the metropolitan area and as an economic development tool.

Pawlenty included another $38.5 million in his proposal for local roads and bridges, the kind of bread-and-butter projects that keep many Building Trades workers employed.

A total of $172.4 million is proposed for programs related to the environment, including $25 million for the Minnesota Zoo. Director Lee Ehmke said the zoo needs nearly twice that amount -- $48 million ? to repair the existing physical plant and fund new exhibits. He told legislators the zoo has more than a million visitors a year and generates about $60 million in direct and indirect benefits to the state?s economy.

Many zoo employees are members of AFSCME Council 6.

AFSCME members are also closely watching the allocations for new corrections facilities. Pawlenty has proposed $108.4 million for ?safer communities,? including $74.9 million to expand the Faribault Correctional Facility and $19.2 million for a 150-bed segregation unit at the Stillwater Correctional Facility.

Public employees believe the corrections projects are sorely needed, but will oppose any efforts to turn over operation of state prisons to private companies, the union said. State Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Shoreview, the chair of the Capital Investment Committee, invited private prison providers to make a presentation to the legislators.

?AFSCME will support bonding that will benefit our members? workplaces and will oppose any effort to use the bonding bill as a vehicle to privatize government services and facilities,? the union said in a statement.

Union leaders said the bonding bill will be the subject of a lot of negotiation and will probably be the last piece of legislation approved during the session. They said the House may approve even less than the governor is suggesting and the Senate is likely to allocate more, with the differences having to be worked out in a conference committee.

Anfang said he is hopeful the final bill will provide more funding than Pawlenty has outlined.

?As the push and shove and the give and take occurs, that number is certainly going to be adjusted,? he said.