The State Bond Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday on $650 million in borrowed funds for transportation improvements, relocating state offices, capital projects, a mixed-use development in Hartford, a minority small business program and setting up the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance program, among other items.
Tuesday’s virtual meeting will be the second held in 2020, and the first since a special meeting in April, when the 10-member commission chaired by Gov. Ned Lamont approved more than $700 million in financing for various transportation projects across the state.
The commission, considering projects already approved by the Democrat-controlled legislature, on Tuesday will consider more than $111.6 million in funding for various transportation-related improvements, including bridge repairs and other highway and environmental projects. It will also vote on $46 million in requested funding for town aid road grants and highway/bridge equipment renewals.
The state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is requesting almost $206 million to finance the newly renovated State Office Building on Capitol Avenue. Funding will be used to cover construction and relocation costs, and the demolition of an existing parking garage and development of a new 1,000 vehicle parking structure and related site improvements.
A request for $200 million was also requested by DAS for the state’s share of the cost of school expansion, renovation and improvement projects.
The state Department of Economic and Community Development is requesting more than $15.3 million to finance various business expansion and retention projects for several manufacturers and CTNext programs.
Another $5 million is being requested to provide additional funding for minority business initiatives underwritten by Hartford nonprofit HEDCO Inc.
The quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) is requesting $5.5 million to provide a loan or equity investment to a Hartford developer proposing to build a $21.5-million mixed-use development in a key corner of the Upper Albany neighborhood. As reported in May, the city council approved a 50-year deal for developer Rohan Freeman, of 7 Summits Realty LLC, to lease the vacant city-owned property for the development of apartments and office and retail space.
The Paid Family and Medical League Insurance Authority is also requesting nearly $7 million to finance development of an employee contribution platform, and software and licensing for the launch of the program, which employees will pay for through a 0.5% payroll tax that starts Jan. 1, 2021.
In addition, $7 million in grant funding is being requested for capital improvements in distressed towns and cities; $4 million is requested for an ongoing statewide asbestos abatement program; and $7 million is requested for the town of Preston to finance additional environmental remediation of the former Norwich State Hospital.
Other funding requests include:
- $36 million to fund environmental compliance, soil and groundwater remediation, demolition, and other work at or in the vicinity of state-owned properties or related to state Department of Transportation operations;
- $20 million to provide fiscal year 2021 funding for the Crumbling Foundations Assistance Fund program;
- $7.1 million to finance Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program grant and oversight;
- $5.6 million to finance equipment and facilities improvements and support advanced manufacturing and emerging technology programs at Connecticut state colleges and universities;
- $5 million for urban bikeway, pedestrian connectivity, trails and mobility programs;
- $3 million for community engagement training for law enforcement units in certain towns;
- $2.3 million for construction projects at libraries in New Britain, Glastonbury, Meriden and Warren;
- $2 million for telecommunications infrastructure at Connecticut state colleges and universities;
- $800,000 for dredging and replacement of the floating dock system at the Marine District headquarters in Old Lyme;
- $725,000 for repairs at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford;
- $500,000 for water pollution control projects at state facilities; and
- $450,000 to finance improvements at the Connecticut Regional Market in Hartford.
Last week, one Republican legislative leader slammed the potential approval of these funds because of new reports that Connecticut may need to dramatically cut its bonding program.
The administration’s budget director, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw, recently said Lamont has reduced spending on borrowed dollars by 60% since taking office in Jan. 2019.
