COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133

Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 9, 2018

Senate Passes Bill Funding State Capital Facility Repairs and Improvements

(Boston) – The Massachusetts Senate today voted to authorize up to $3.65 billion in bonds for repairs and improvements of capital facilities across the Commonwealth. Spending authorizations in the bill include bonds for state university and community college campus improvements, public safety and security facilities and clean energy and efficiency programs.

“This bill is critical as existing authorizations are expiring and shovel ready projects are currently on hold,” stated Senator Joan Lovely. “This bill helps to ensure that the state is maintaining and modernizing its assets to best serve the residents of the Commonwealth.”

 Senator Lovely added, “I am pleased that local priorities in the 2nd Essex District were included in the final language of the Senate bill. Thank you to the local officials and State Representatives who helped identify these local priorities.”

“This bill invests in capital projects across the state, to ensure our state facilities are well-maintained and well-equipped to best serve our residents and communities,” said Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “These bonds are a strong step in our continued work with the Governor and the House to support projects in a range of areas, including health, safety and education, that are critical for our cities and towns.”

“The Senate’s support for these projects highlights the Legislature’s commitment to significant revitalization and economic development across the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “The maintenance and improvement of these projects is essential to maintain a high quality of life for our constituents.”

“Long term capital investment in these facilities is critical, and this bond ensures that necessary planning and investment will continue without interruption,” said Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy), Chair of the Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. “This is one key part of the capital budgeting process, and I look forward to ongoing collaboration between the Legislature and the Governor on meeting statewide needs.”

“The commitments that we as Senators make in this bill will help maintain and modernize important assets,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “By supporting both state and municipal facilities we are protecting the future utility of these resources while using modern project controls that will empower DCAMM and others to produce the best results possible.”

The bill authorizes the issuance of bonds for the improvement of capital facilities and for general government operations, including:

  • $680 million for general state facility improvements;
  • $675 million for trial court facility improvements;
  • $500 million for public safety and security facilities;
  • $475 million for state university and community college campus improvements;
  • $475 million for the University of Massachusetts system campus improvements;
  • $193.4 million for a municipal facility improvement grant program;
  • $150 million for the Accelerated Energy and Resiliency program, which develops and implements energy and water savings projects statewide;
  • $85 million for the Clean Energy Investment Program to improve the energy efficiency of state-owned facilities.

The bill also increases previous spending authorizations for University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges campus facilities.

In addition, the bill increases several project control and supervision, design and construction thresholds for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, to keep pace with current costs of construction in Massachusetts.

The bill will now be reconciled with a version passed by the House of Representatives.

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