Governor Deval Patrick's Five Year Capital Investment Plan FY2014 - FY2018

Governor's Capital Investment Plan FY2014

Appendix B - Bond Bills

Bond Bills
Immediate Needs On March 23, 2007, the Governor approved a $1.8 B immediate needs bond authorization.  The legislation provided for the completion of on-going capital projects, federal funding for transportation projects and funding for urgent capital investment needs of the Commonwealth including projects related to state buildings, energy and environment, public safety, health and human services and transportation.
Transportation On April 17, 2008, the Governor approved a $1.6 B bond bill for transportation improvements which will leverage an additional $1.9 B in federal reimbursements. This legislation included $150 M for Chapter 90 grants to cities and towns for local roads and bridges in fiscal 2009 and $700 M for certain mass transit improvements required as part of the state implementation plan. On August 8, 2008, the Governor approved a second transportation bond bill authorizing $1.445 B for road and bridge projects and other transportation-related capital investments. On April 11, 2011 and June 29, 2012 the Governor approved two $200 M bond bills for local Chapter 90 road and bridge construction.  On August 9, 2012 the Governor approved an additional $885 M bond authorization in order to leverage federal funding for transportation improvement projects totaling $1.5 B.  On May 23, 2013 the Governor approved a $300 M bond bill for local Chapter 90 road and bridge construction.
Housing On May 29, 2008, the Governor approved a $1.275 B affordable housing bond bill which includes $500 M for the preservation and improvement of the Commonwealth’s 50,000 units of state-owned public housing. The legislation also provides authorization for various programs that subsidize the development and preservation of privately owned affordable housing, including $200 M for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $125 M for the Housing Stabilization Fund.  On November 14, 2013 the Governor approved of a $1.4 B housing bill which funds11 capital funding programs that rehabilitate and modernize state-assisted public housing; preserve the affordability and income mix of state-assisted multifamily developments; and support homeownership and production of rental housing opportunities for low and moderate income residents, elderly, persons experiencing homelessness, persons with disabilities and veterans.
Life Sciences On June 16, 2008, the Governor approved legislation in support of the life sciences industry.  Among other initiatives and provisions relating to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the legislation authorizes borrowing $500 M over a 10-year period to fund capital investments and infrastructure improvements around the state to support the life sciences industry.
Broadband On August 4, 2008, the Governor approved legislation creating a Massachusetts Broadband Institute within the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The Institute is to administer a new Broadband Incentive Fund, to be capitalized by general obligation bonds in the amount of $40 M, to invest in long-lived, publicly owned broadband infrastructure, enabling private firms to partner with the state to connect the Commonwealth’s un-served and underserved communities to broadband services.
Bridges On August 4, 2008, the Governor approved legislation authorizing $2.984 B in Commonwealth bonds to finance an accelerated structurally deficient bridge program. The program, which was developed in collaboration with the State Treasurer, is expected to finance over 250 bridge projects over the next eight years with approximately $1.9 B of special obligation bonds secured by a portion of the gas tax and $1.1 B of grant anticipation notes secured by future federal funds. By accelerating the investment in bridges, the Commonwealth expects to realize hundreds of millions of dollars of savings from avoided inflation and deferred maintenance costs.
Higher Education On August 7, 2008, the Governor approved a $2.2 B higher education bond authorization. The legislation includes authorizations for new buildings, renovation projects and capital improvements at each of the Commonwealth’s public higher education campuses. Of the $2.2 B total authorization, $1.2 B will be dedicated to capital investments at state and community colleges, and $1 B will be dedicated to capital investments at the University of Massachusetts. The authorized amounts are expected to be expended over a ten-year period.
General Government On August 11, 2008, the Governor approved a $3.3 B general government bond bill making targeted investments in public safety, city and town facilities, state buildings and information technology systems. Included in the bill is authorization to assist communities with local infrastructure needs, improvements to state and county correctional facilities, improvements to court facilities throughout Massachusetts and capital repairs, on-going maintenance and unforeseen emergency capital needs at state office buildings and facilities. The legislation also authorizes targeted infrastructure investments to spur economic development in our communities. To enhance government services provided to all citizens of the Commonwealth, the legislation includes funding to modernize critical state information technology systems, including funding to replace and upgrade the outdated and overburdened systems at the Department of Revenue and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Economic Development On August 5, 2010, the Governor approved an economic development bill, which, among other matters, provided for the recapitalization of key economic development programs financed through the Commonwealth's capital plan. On August 7, 2012 the Governor approved an economic development bill which formally creates the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, creates the Local Infrastructure Development Program, increases funding for the I-Cubed program, and creates new, innovative programs in order to spur investment and growth in manufacturing, business development, and the innovation economy.
Capital Supplemental On June 21, 2013, the Governor approved a $375 M capital supplemental bond authorization. The legislation provided for the continued funding of IT projects, state facility deferred maintenance and energy projects.

 

Proposed Bond Bills
General Government In March, the Governor proposed a general government bond bill for $928 M to support a wide range of capital projects from state facility improvements to public safety equipment to municipal grants for library construction.
Transportation In March, the Governor proposed a $19 B bond bill which will address a backlog of deferred maintenance and strategically improve our transportation system. This legislation included authorization for South Coast rail, South Station renovation, Green Line extension as well as funding to match federal highway grants.
Information Technology In March, the Governor proposed an information technology and innovation bond bill for $869 M to ensure the delivery of critical services to constituents in a better, faster and more efficient manner than would otherwise be possible, including building on the Commonwealth's successful public safety information systems network modernization and Health Insurance Exchange to promote health care cost containment.
Energy & Environment In March, the Governor proposed an energy and environment bond bill for $911.5 M to support the Executive Office of Energy and Environment’s diverse capital program, including a new fund to address necessary coastal repair projects highlighted in the February storm. The bill also includes funding for the Accelerated Energy Program which aims to reduce energy consumption by 20 to 25 percent at 700 state sites, creating about 4,000 clean energy jobs and saving the Commonwealth an estimated $43 M annually.
Housing In March, the Governor proposed a housing bond bill for $567 M to continue the Commonwealth's investments in low income and public housing.
Military In March, the Governor proposed a military bond bill for $177 M to make investments in the Commonwealth’s military bases. This funding will help protect 46,500 direct and indirect jobs on our six military bases that collectively have an economic impact of $14.2 B on the Commonwealth’s economy.

 

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