The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is urging state lawmakers to pass at least a 1.5-billion-dollar bonding bill in the upcoming legislative session. Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka says there should be at least 200 million dollars for water infrastructure projects, adding, “I know from first-hand experience from Little Falls that these projects are extremely important, but they are also extremely expensive.” Zykla says over 300 Minnesota cities have critical water infrastructure projects in the works.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman says she’ll support the largest bonding bill the state can afford. Democrats other than Hortman have suggested a number as high as three-and-a-half-billion dollars. Governor Tim Walz has proposed about two billion, but Senate Republicans are talking about a bonding bill under one-billion dollars.