Bonding Bill Deal Announced; Includes $35M For Mayo Civic Center

Legislative leaders at the State Capitol announced Wednesday afternoon they had reached an agreement on an over $1 billion bonding package.

State Senator Leroy Stumpf chairs the Senate Capital Investment Committee and says the deal was negotiated by the leaders of the House and Senate, along with Governor Mark Dayton. While he says Republicans in both chambers were also engaged, it remains unclear if there are enough votes to pass the legislation in the House.

The package, which is largely funded through $846-million dollars in state borrowing, includes $35-million dollars for the long-planned Mayo Civic Center expansion and renovation project in Rochester and funding for several other local projects.

It was stripped of a provision concerning a residential sprinkler mandate that had prompted a veto threat from Governor Mark Dayton.  The House and Senate are scheduled to vote on the legislation on Thursday.