Requests Rolling In For Next Minn. Bonding Package

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton's administration and the Legislature will have no shortage of projects to pick from when the devise next year's construction works borrowing package.

A preliminary tally released Monday by the Department of Minnesota Management and Budget shows that $2.8 billion in requests have been put in so far. That includes more than $2.1 billion from state agencies and $682 million from local governments.

A bonding bill tends to be the focus of election-year sessions, and there's early talk that lawmakers might be looking at a package in the neighborhood of $1 billion next year. But borrowing bills take a supermajority to pass, giving Republicans ample room to negotiate in an otherwise Democratic-controlled state government.

Dayton expects to issue his borrowing recommendations in January.

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