ST. PAUL – Significant projects within District 10B and the surrounding region are among those signed into law Wednesday as Gov. Mark Dayton enacted a capital investment package featuring $825 million in general obligation bonds.
This includes a $1.5 million appropriation for the Mille Lacs-Malmo East ATV loop near Mille Lacs Lake, $32 million for three new veterans homes in the state – including one in Bemidji – and $28 million for mental health crisis centers.
“It’s a good mix of projects in the bill, both from a local perspective and from a broad, statewide view” Lueck said. “This bill went through very thorough scrutiny and that helped create a finished product that allows us to fund priority projects while also honoring the taxpayers. The $25 million the bill provides for improving school safety is an important step and I am glad we included that provision.”
The bonding portion of the bill as presented to the governor included:
- $178 asset preservation
- $123 million for water-related projects
- $20 million for flood work
- $208 million for higher education construction
- $541 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.
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