SF4151

Purpose

This bill would provide funding for a capital improvement at Duluth International Airport. Specifically, it would authorize the sale of state bonds and appropriate money to pay for designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping a new air traffic control tower base building at the Duluth International Airport. The project would include offices and support spaces, equipment rooms, workspaces, and logistics space, plus related site work.

What the bill would do (Main provisions)

• Appropriation: An amount of up to $4,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund would be appropriated to the commissioner of transportation. This money would be granted to the Duluth Airport Authority to design, construct, furnish, and equip the new air traffic control tower base building and related spaces.
• Project scope: The funding covers site and site-support area preparation, demolition of obsolete buildings, construction and installation of utilities and a stormwater retention system, and replacement of an existing fuel tank.
• Federal funding match: A portion of the appropriation could be used as a match to federal funding for the project.

Funding and financing (Bonding)

• Bond sale: The commissioner of management and budget would issue state bonds in an amount up to $4,000,000 to finance the appropriation.
• Legal authorization: Bond issuance would follow Minnesota law (Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4 to 7).

Key actors and terms

• Affected project administrator: Duluth Airport Authority receives the grant; the commissioner of transportation administers the grant.
• Financing authorities: Minnesota state bonds (bond proceeds fund) and the commissioner of management and budget handle the bond sale.
• Related terms in the bill: air traffic control tower base building, Duluth International Airport, site prep, demolition of obsolete buildings, utilities, stormwater retention system, fuel tank replacement, federal funding match, capital improvements, capital investment.

Impact and changes to existing law

• This bill would authorize and fund a specific airport capital project through bond proceeds, expanding the state’s bonding and capital investment activities for airport infrastructure. It does not repeal existing laws but creates a new appropriation and bonding authorization tied to the Duluth International Airport project.

Relevant Terms - air traffic control tower base building - Duluth International Airport - Duluth Airport Authority - appropriation - bond proceeds fund - bonds - design, construct, furnish, and equip - office spaces, office support spaces, equipment rooms, workspaces, logistic support spaces - site and site support area preparation - demolition of obsolete buildings - utilities - stormwater retention system - fuel tank replacement - federal funding match - Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7 - commissioner of transportation - commissioner of management and budget - capital improvements / capital investment