Governor approves federal dollar use

The Department of Transportation can spend potential federal economic stimulus dollars.

Signed April 1 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and effective the next day, a new law will create a standing appropriation for MnDOT to spend any initial or future funds. Hundreds of millions of federal dollars are expected to be Minnesota bound for transportation purposes. The law expires June 30, 2013.

MnDOT officials said the law allows them to spend stimulus money even when the Legislature is not in session. Current statute prohibits the department from spending money without legislative approval.

Sponsored by Rep. Bernie Lieder (DFL-Crookston) and Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing), the law also requires compliance with all federal requirements for the aid; orders department officials to “make every reasonable effort to seek and utilize” all funding available; permits no more than 17 percent of funds to be used for program delivery, such as engineering, right-of-way acquisition or environmental assessments; and deletes a state match for any aeronautics projects. Current state law requires a 20 percent local match for aeronautic projects.

HF1797*/SF1511/CH9