Corrections & Institutions committee reviews capital funding, bond authority and capital‑book reporting

John Grama, Legislative Council, walked the Corrections and Institutions Committee through the funding provisions of the draft capital bill on Tuesday, March 18, noting bond and cash authorizations and proposed reporting changes.

Grama said the bill’s section 18 would authorize the state treasurer to issue general obligation bonds totaling $100,000,000 “for the purpose of funding the appropriations made in sections 2 through 16,” and explained technical drafting changes carried over from last year’s capital bills. “We are, again, in this instance, we are now in the funding sections,” Grama said as he opened the discussion.

The discussion moved quickly from bond form to cash authorizations. Committee staff identified two of the largest cash items in the draft: $8,000,000 from the capital infrastructure subaccount to the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS) for statewide major maintenance, and $8,000,000 for the Windsor County courthouse. Committee members also noted a $1,500,000 reallocation earmarked for design of the Vermont Veterans Home “A” unit; Grama explained that language moves that amount into a…