Herald editorial board
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is pushing what might be considered a "legacy bill" as the Legislature continues is 2018 session.
In January, the governor proposed borrowing $1.5 billion to finance various state construction projects. Much of the spending would benefit the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State college system which, combined, would receive somewhere around $540 million for infrastructure and improvement projects.
Another $998 million would go toward fixing other state buildings and infrastructure, and to affordable housing.
The University of Minnesota would receive some $250 million for preserving and upgrading existing buildings; at Minnesota State, $180 million would be allocated for renovating existing structures.
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Naturally, with a price tag this high there would be benefits throughout the state, and that's so in northwest Minnesota, too. Specifically, the funding could result in renovations to Owen Hall at the University of Minnesota Crookston; a replacement of Hagg-Sauer Hall on the campus of Bemidji State University; and expansion of health science education at Northland Community and Technical College.
The governor also wants to preserve key outdoors assets. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources seeks $130 million, for example, to preserve or improve infrastructure, including docks, buildings and forest roads.
All of these are noble causes, and the governor's proposal - albeit expensive - would result in infrastructure preservation or improvement throughout the state.
Last week, the Herald suggested Minnesota take advantage of federal tax reform and sink the resulting windfall back into the hands of Minnesotans - businesses and individuals alike - to help move the state's tax rates downward. Today, we believe Minnesota lawmakers must strongly consider Gov. Dayton's bonding bill.
We don't believe these opinions clash because Minnesota will retain a healthy revenue stream even after a tax cut, and because Dayton's bill relies upon bonds - borrowed money that would be paid back over time.
In addition, lawmakers have every right to negotiate the bonding bill and to put proposals in priority order. But they'd better get started: As the International Falls Journal noted in an editorial, Dayton released his proposal more than 10 weeks ago, but "we've not seen anything from the Minnesota House or Senate.
"We urge the House and Senate to consider this state's love affair with nature and all the amenities we need to enjoy it," the newspaper editorialized.
"It's time to see the hands the other players are dealing."
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That's good advice, and lawmakers should take it.
Likewise, lawmakers must consider the words of Minnesota State interim Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, who has called asset preservation the state's "No. 1 priority."
Dayton's proposal includes myriad preservation projects, and in the end, it will mean repairing what the state already owns. This is a sound, wise proposal. Whether $1.5 billion should be spent is the question, but it's apparent that needs exist.
It's time for the Legislature to respond and, we hope, act accordingly.
