2/8/2018 11:06:59 AM
For Immediate Release:
February 8, 2018
ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Department of Administration Commissioner Matt Massman and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans highlighted the importance of maintaining, restoring and improving current state buildings as they detailed key projects included in Governor Dayton’s 2018 public works proposal. Governor Dayton has proposed $458 million - roughly a third of the $1.5 billion bonding proposal - in improvements to state park facilities, state laboratories, psychiatric hospital renovations, and mechanical system replacement at buildings all across Minnesota.
A statewide analysis of state buildings show approximately 50 percent of state and higher education buildings are currently in “fair” or worse condition. It costs an average of 72 percent more to repair a structure once it reaches “poor” condition than when it is in a “fair” condition. The State of Minnesota estimates it would cost an estimated $8.2 billion over the next decade simply to restore and maintain our current state and higher education infrastructure.
“As state buildings and other critical infrastructure age, the need to provide critical maintenance is growing by the day, and our investment has not kept pace with the growing need. It would cost an estimated $8 billion over the next decade simply to restore and maintain our current state and higher education infrastructure,” said Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans. “These are common sense investments and the right thing to do. The alternative is unsafe workplaces and higher costs for repair down the road.”
State facilities identified as in critical need for repair by the Dayton Administration are located in local communities across the state. For three years, Blue Mounds State Park outside the city of Luverne has been without potable water due to ground water contamination impacting drinking water, showers, and toilets. At the correctional facility in Faribault, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct work fell from the ceiling in a work station where employees were working. And at the Fort Snelling Visitor’s Center, extensive water intrusion led the State Archaeologist’s office to install a tarp with a drain to collect and siphon leaking water away from research stations and valuable files.
“Minnesotans know the importance of fixing a leaking roof and maintaining the furnace,” said Minnesota Department of Administration Commissioner Matt Massman. “Throughout Minnesota, state buildings essential to serving the public are in need of extensive repairs to keep water out and function safely. If we don’t take action now, the problem just gets worse while the price tag only gets bigger. Governor Dayton’s investment to take care of what we have is the fiscally responsible choice.”
In addition to urgently needed investments for current state buildings, Governor Dayton’s public works proposal would invest $542 million in maintaining and improving public higher education classrooms and facilities statewide. These investments would help ensure that all Minnesotans can access a world-class education no matter where they live.
See images of current state facilities requiring critical improvements and restoration work.
See a full list of the public works projects included in Governor Dayton’s proposal, listed by county. See full descriptions of all of the projects included in the bill.
In addition to the public works projects proposed by Governor Dayton, communities across Minnesota have submitted proposals for $858 million in other urgently-needed local bonding projects – demonstrating the significant need for substantial infrastructure investments in the upcoming legislative session. Though not part of his public works bill, the Governor believes these projects merit state investments, and he looks forward to working with the Legislature to include many of them in a final bill during the 2018 Legislative Session. View a full list of these local project proposals.
###Contact: Curtis Yoakum, Minnesota Department of Administration
Director of Communications
651-201-2771, Curtis.Yoakum@state.mn.us
Contact: Keith Hovis, Minnesota Management & Budget
Director of Communications
651-259-3666, Keith.Hovis@state.mn.us
