Project priority to stay same
|
|
Toolbox
BY Louis Porter VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: February 19, 2009
MONTPELIER — Legislative leaders and state officials seem inclined to allocate federal stimulus money for infrastructure projects – roads, bridges, water systems, and more — through the state's existing priority setting and evaluation process.
Of the half-dozen or more lists of possible projects competing for a share of the federal funds, compiled by one group or another — and some projects are on several lists — those already in the state queue or that can be added to it are more likely to be built.
That matters because such process decisions will have a large influence on which roads, bridges and safe drinking water projects in what towns will be built with the money. And with nearly every group or association gathering possible lists of projects that could use stimulus money, the demand will likely be much greater than the amount available, even in the massive $787 billion federal bill.
Exactly how much money will be available for infrastructure from energy to schools to roads to anti-pollution projects over the next two federal fiscal years (which coincide with three state fiscal years) is not entirely clear, but it will likely be measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars in Vermont.
In all, including tax breaks, Vermont and its residents are expected to receive more than $1 billion. Close to $300 million will come in forms that can be used to help fill state budget gaps.
Lawmakers and officials in the administration of Gov. James Douglas met Wednesday to talk about how — if not yet exactly where — the money for infrastructure projects will be spent.
The state's prioritization system that evaluates what road projects should be built first based on use, condition and other factors should be used to determine what projects get federal stimulus money, said Secretary of Administration Neale Lunderville.
There seemed to be general agreement that the road and bridge money — more than $120 million — should be allocated through that same general process, in part because there is little time to create a new system and in part because the current system has been working, they said.
Two specific projects were mentioned as possible — although not definite — recipients of the stimulus money — a Richmond bridge project and the next stage of the Bennington Bypass.
Administration officials said it is vitally important that the one-time federal money be used for one-time projects, not to build the base spending of state government.
For the remaining stimulus infrastructure money — for instance drinking water, storm water control, and other projects — the process the administration and the Legislature uses to set and fund the annual capital spending bill should be used, officials and lawmakers said.
The difference will be that the amount of money being spent will be larger and come from federal stimulus money rather than state bonding.
That process should not create a conflict between the state and municipalities, Lunderville said. Some projects on the municipal list compiled by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which itself reaches more than $1 billion in possible spending, will not qualify for the federal money. Other projects are not yet ready to go. Still others suggested by towns are already high in the state priority system and are likely to be funded in any case.
"There are a lot of local priorities that do win out in the state prioritization system," said Steven Jeffrey, executive director of the league.
And the use of the federal funds on even state projects may mean more money for municipal projects, with state funding freed up, he added. For instance, the state could put more into the "Class 2" road and bridge repairs. Last year that fund received $3 million and had $13 million in requests, Jeffrey said.
State officials have compiled a list of possible drinking water projects that total $180,000. The list of possible pollution control projects totals $336,000, and the possible highway project list is $247,000.
And that list does not yet include the league's suggested projects, or others that are circulating among lawmakers.
48