HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Changes to the 80-million dollar infrastructure bonding bill that’s moving through the Legislature now will allow more projects to be funded with borrowed money.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports, House Bill 652, which sets a list of public works projects to be funded with general bonds, moves $9 million to a special tax fund for MSU’s Romney Hall renovation.
“It would see more than a million student visits per year making it one of the most heavily used building in the entire University system.”
That’s Tracy Ellig with the Montana University System who says Romney Hall, which will cost a total of $32 million to renovate, has ben a priority ask since 2010. Projects like Romney Hall have caused Legislators in past sessions to vote against a comprehensive bonding bill.
Darryl James with the Montana Infrastructure Coalition supports the amended bill’s additional $7,5 million for local and school infrastructure projects, but says the state needs to figure out a way to manage a $2 billion infrastructure deficit.
“Hopefully as we continue down this path, we’ll be able to find those tools. And, we won’t be here asking for state bonding debt to fund local critical infrastructure.”
The bill passed out of the House with a vote of 68 to30 last week. The Senate Finance and Claims Committee Heard testimony on the bill Tuesday.
