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Appropriations subcommittee flags capital‑bill pressure points: clean water loans, major projects, Wi‑Fi funding and staffing requests
Summary
Committee members flagged large capital requests and matching requirements that will shape capital‑bill markup, including the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, three large local development projects, a $3 million Wi‑Fi request for DOC, and new staffing demands.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections & Institutions spent the latter portion of its Thursday hearing reviewing capital‑bill workload and budget pressures, naming several items that may require extra committee time and scrutiny.
Committee members flagged the Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund programs and the state match that must be available to leverage federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds. The chair said the administration proposed $14.5 million in state match set aside in prior years and the subcommittee needs to confirm timing and whether federal funds will be available to match that amount.
Members reported that regional planning commissions are raising concerns that projects in the queue are not moving; committee staff asked planning commissions to submit information and, if needed, to testify. The chair also said some ARPA funds that were not encumbered by the federal deadline may need to be returned, and the committee must coordinate with the Appropriations Committee to quantify that exposure.
The subcommittee discussed three large development projects that recently appeared in the capital bill package; members identified Bennington, Brattleboro and Barre (and associated local development partnerships) and said the committee will likely need additional testimony from the local sponsors to evaluate requests and the potential use of bonded dollars. Several members cautioned that directing bonded dollars to projects with private partners can strain capital budgets and create pressure on future bond capacity.
On corrections-related items, committee members reiterated a request to seek $3 million for Wi‑Fi in correctional facilities; the Energy Committee is also expected to support that request. Members also discussed staffing requests, noting that sheriffs and state's attorneys have requested many positions and that the committee will coordinate with House Judiciary and other committees on those proposals.
Committee members said markup on the capital bill will require additional time, possibly multiple nights, and that smaller groups of members may meet separately to gather more detailed information. The committee scheduled additional testimony, including a planned briefing from the Department of Environmental Conservation on Tuesday regarding revolving‑loan programs and IIJA matching.
