Today, Governor Dayton signed the 2018 capital investment bill into law. This new law includes $79.4 million for the University of Minnesota.
Today, Governor Dayton signed the 2018 capital investment bill into law. This new law includes $79.4 million for the University of Minnesota:
- $45 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement systemwide
- $3.2 million for Dowell Hall and Owen Hall on the Crookston campus
- $3.2 million for the Humanities Building and Blakely Hall on the Morris campus
- $24 million for Pillsbury Hall on the Twin Cities campus
- $4 million for Glensheen Mansion in Duluth
In total, the state has appropriated nearly $200 million in general obligation bonds for the University over the 2017-18 biennium.
The new law includes $825 million in general obligation bonds, along with over $600 million in other funding sources. In a letter, the governor expressed his concerns over the bill's inadequate funding for higher education and other infrastructure projects. However, he stated he signed the bill so that its infrastructure projects, including University of Minnesota projects, can proceed. As you may recall, in January the governor recommended nearly $1.5 billion in general obligation bonds for capital investment projects.
The new law also includes approximately $14.75 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) for University research projects. Typically, the ENRTF bill travels separately from the capital investment bill. However, the legislature merged these two together this session. Additionally, the bill authorizes the use of debt service payments from the ENRTF to support another $98 million in projects that did not go through the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resource recommendation process.
With this action by the governor, the 2018 state legislative session comes to a close as it pertains the University's priorities.