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Senate adopts substitute for HB173 to reallocate I‑15 savings and limit bonding
Summary
The Senate passed a second substitute for House Bill 173 that reduces the bonding authority authorized for transportation projects and reallocates savings from the I‑15 core project to other prioritized projects while aiming to remain under the statutory bonding limit.
Senators on March 8 approved a second substitute to House Bill 173 that reworks the transportation funding framework: the substitute reduces available bonding authority by roughly $130 million and directs savings from completed I‑15 work to priority projects while implementing a one‑year limit on issuing additional bonds.
Senator Adams, arguing for the substitute, described projected savings on the I‑15 core project and said the change was intended to avoid breaching the statutory 85 percent bonding threshold. ‘‘This bill continues on that, what I believe is good sound fiscal management... not bonding any more than we need to,’’ he said. Supporters said the change preserves capacity to complete authorized projects and helps maintain construction jobs.
Opponents raised concerns about legislative prioritization of projects rather than leaving project sequencing to the State Road Commission; a senator voted no for that reason even while supporting the bill's debt‑control aims. The Senate approved the second substitute by recorded vote (25 yea, 3 nay, 1 absent) and returned the bill to the House for further action.
Provenance: Floor debate and votes on HB173, including substitute motions and recorded roll‑call, are drawn from Senate proceedings on March 8, 2012.
