Committee hears capital budget orientation; treasurer urges conservative bonding target

The Public Works and Highways committee received an orientation on the capital budget process and a debt-affordability briefing during a meeting that began at 10:30 a.m.

Chris Shea of the Legislative Budget Assistance (LBA) office told committee members the governor is recommending about $143,000,000 in general‑fund capital appropriations and reviewed how agency requests are whittled into the governor’s recommended “pink” document. State Treasurer Monica Muscavelli presented the Treasury’s debt‑affordability analysis and said the Treasury views a biennial bonding target near $120,000,000 as prudent.

The presentation outlined the capital budget timeline and documents members will use during hearings. Shea said agencies submit capital requests by May 1, the Department of Administrative Services (public works) compiles cost estimates and the governor issues a recommended capital budget in mid‑February. Shea emphasized that…