The House Ways and Means Committee has recommended passage of a bill authorizing $200 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The package is a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds.
Supporters said the $200 million would help cities and towns keep their roads and bridges safe and allow many vital municipal road projects to move forward.
Some cities and towns prefer a bill that provides $600 million over three years. Some municipal leaders note that approving $200 million per year for three years is helpful to cities and towns that would prefer to know the money is guaranteed each year for the next three years.