Governor plans to propose $850 million bonding bill

Dayton told reporters he would pitch the bill in part to fund buffer zones around bodies of water.

January 16, 2015 at 10:02PM
Gov. Mark Dayton gave his inaugural address at Landmark Center in St. Paul on Monday.
Gov. Mark Dayton gave his inaugural address at Landmark Center in St. Paul on Monday. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Gov. Mark Dayton said Friday that he plans to pitch an $850 million bonding bill in February.

"I'm going to propose a bonding bill this year…probably about $850 million or so," Dayton told reporters shortly after he spoke at the annual Department of Natural Resources "roundtable," where he told stakeholders he plans to propose legislation to mandate 50-foot "buffer zones" around waterways to prevent water runoff pollution and preserve pheasant habitats.

Asked how Dayton would fund the measure, Dayton said about $150 million would come from the bonding bill, which he will propose after the Minnesota Management and Budget office releases its February forecast.

Although 2015 is considered a budget year and not typically a bonding year, odd-year bonding bills are not unheard of. This year's bill would come on the heels of a $1 billion bonding bill passed last session.

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about the writer

Abby Simons

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Abby Simons is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Public Safety Editor. Her team covers crime and courts across the metro. She joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2008 and previously reported on crime, courts and politics.

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