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REGIONAL— Northeastern Minnesota would be a major beneficiary of a state bonding bill approved by the state House on Monday. State Rep. Roger Skraba, R-Ely, was one of a relative handful of …
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REGIONAL— Northeastern Minnesota would be a major beneficiary of a state bonding bill approved by the state House on Monday. State Rep. Roger Skraba, R-Ely, was one of a relative handful of Republican lawmakers to join DFLers in approving the spending package, which may still face more unified GOP opposition in the state Senate.
In total, the funding package includes one bill (House File 669) which features $1.5 billion in state bonds, and another bill (House File 670) which appropriates around $392 million from the general fund.
“This is a good bill for Northeast Minnesota as we worked hard to make sure that the interests and priorities of our area were included in this package,” said Skraba, who serves on the House Capital Investment Committee. “We have a responsibility to take care of state-owned assets and to make sure that infrastructure needs are met across our region and the state. While the bill isn’t perfect, I was happy to support it because of its importance for the Northland and for the men and women of labor.”
Local projects include:
• $3.633 million for classroom and common space renovations at Vermilion Community College in Ely.
• $3 million to repair and reconstruct the Nett Lake Dam in Koochiching County.
• $11 million for several infrastructure improvements at the Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, including the design and construction of a visitor center, camping facilities and trails, among other improvements.
• $4 million for construction of the Gitchi Gami Trail.
• $3.5 million for the construction of a safe harbor on Rainy Lake and Rainy River at the Gateway to Voyageurs National Park in Ranier.
• $1.294 million for Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District debt retirement to bring the district’s monthly wastewater rates in line with those of similarly situated facilities across the state.
• $12.2 million for upgrades to snowmaking infrastructure at Giants Ridge.
• $1.138 million for construction of two miles of the Mesabi Trail between Wahlsten Rd. and Tower.
The bill now heads to the Senate where Republicans appear more unified in opposition to the measure. While the DFL has narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, passage of the bonding bill, at its current size, requires a 60-percent majority, which means lawmakers will need to act in a bipartisan manner to grant final approval.
Should the Senate reject the bonding plan, the DFL would have the option of approving the funds out of the current budget surplus, which would only require a simple majority.