Sending stimulus dollars

Under an aggressive timeline to get shovels in the ground and people to work, approximately $50 million in local road projects have been advertised by the Transportation Department.

Funding is just a small portion of the federal stimulus package the state expects to see for transportation projects.

Abby McKenzie, director of the department’s Office of Investment Management, told a joint meeting of the House Ways and Means and Finance committees Feb. 23, “things are moving very quickly at MnDOT.”

She said the state should be receiving the highway funds on March 10, with project work to begin as soon as May 1, according to the department’s Web site.

The announcement was part of a larger discussion with Tom Hanson, Minnesota Management and Budget commissioner, about the expected funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the effect on the 2010-2011 biennial budget.

Hanson called it “an almost unprecedented challenge between quick obligation and quick action” regarding the stimulus money, while, at the same time, maintaining current program efficiency.

For committee members, spending transparency is important as well as who will be making the decisions. Hanson, appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to serve as the state’s federal stimulus coordinator, assured members of their involvement, noting much of the spending will come as a result of legislation. He said an informational Web site about the stimulus money should be up “shortly,” with a more comprehensive site to follow.

With the expected March 3 release of the February Forecast, Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Grand Rapids), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, asked how the stimulus money will affect the governor’s previously released budget proposal. Hanson said the budget will need at least two “lengthy” change items — relating mostly to education and health and human services.