MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (GRAY) – DFL Minnesota Governor Tim Walz continued to highlight proposed bonding investments Wednesday, visiting a Minneapolis veterans’ home that’s been in operation since the 1880s.
“[These buildings are] historic, but you look underneath and there’s a lot of decay and a lot of maintenance has been deferred over the years,” said Brad Lindsay, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
Walz’s bonding proposal contains a $16 million investment into the Minneapolis home. Specifically, the money will be used to upgrade a building from the 1970s by restoring HVAC, flood-proofing the building, and more. Walz explained the importance of funding the project.
“These are our facilities. They are our state assets. They are part of this year’s bonding bill or those local jobs and projects bill and this one again, as I said is one of our top priorities,” he said.
On top of the investments Walz is proposing $12.8 million dollars to help with asset preservation in facilities across the state.
“You have to remember every time you open one of those, there’s a long-term commitment that needs to be upheld to make sure those facilities are maintained over the years,” Lindsay said.
According to Lindsay, the state’s deferred maintenance needs are much higher statewide.
“We have about $300 million every year that would be considered deferred maintenance costs. The $12.8 million is basically just to take care of the worst of the worst things and to stay ahead of those.” he said.
The governor’s veterans’ proposal is part of a larger push to revamp state facilities. 45 percent of his proposed infrastructure plan is dedicated to preserving existing state infrastructure. On Monday, Walz highlighted a need to build a new office for the state patrol. After Wednesday’s tour, he called for bipartisan collaboration on the bill as a whole.
“We have a bonding proposal that will come up and it takes a super majority of votes. It is very bipartisan. I would list this [veterans’ proposal] at the very top of things as we make a decision that we need to get done and get working on.” he said.
The governor’s bonding proposal is currently being reviewed by the legislature’s capital investment committees.
Copyright 2024 KTTC. All rights reserved.
