With less than three weeks left before the legislative session ends, uncertainty remains about whether a bonding bill will move forward. With so many vital projects on the line, it is more important than ever that CGMC members and other stakeholders put pressure on legislators and focus their attention on the need for a bonding bill.
BACKGROUND
In a non-budget year such as this, the Legislature’s top priority should be to pass a bonding bill. Although a package was passed last year, that bill failed to fund any local projects, which a normal bonding package typically includes. Whether it’s funding to replace lead lines, shore up water and wastewater infrastructure, repair roads and bridges, or invest in other critical infrastructure, our communities cannot afford to wait any longer for much-needed bonding funds.
Because a bonding bill requires a 3/5 majority of each body to pass, bipartisan cooperation is crucial. Therefore, we need all our legislators to step forward and make passing a bonding bill a top priority NOW.
We need your help to push for bonding!
ACT NOW:
Contact your state senator, your state representative, and legislative leaders as soon as possible and urge them to pass a bonding bill before the end of session.
Tell them:
- Greater Minnesota cities are counting on them to pass a bonding bill that includes money for water and wastewater projects, housing, local roads and bridges, and the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) grant program.
- Without an additional appropriation, the lead line replacement program will run out of funds next year and the state will not have enough money to fund the 2027 construction season. This will not only increase costs, but projects could lose contractors and skilled tradespeople who have been engaged in this work to other states.
- There is an estimated $12 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure needs across the state over the next 20 years. Without a bonding bill, this backlog will only grow, delaying projects and shifting a greater share of infrastructure costs onto residents and businesses.
- If you have a local project seeking bonding funds, it’s important to mention how necessary that project is.
- You expect the Legislature to help fund core infrastructure. Passing a bonding bill this year is not a “nice to have”… it’s a “need to have.”
Contact info:
- Find your legislators’ contact information here.
- Click here to email House and Senate legislative leaders. If the link does not work in your email, you can find contact info for House leadership here and Senate leadership here.
Questions?
If you have any questions about bonding or this Action Alert, please contact CGMC Executive Director Bradley Peterson at bmpeterson@flaherty-hood.com or 651-259-1911.
