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BRIEF: Treasurer urging public works projects be reined inCONCORD, Jan 09, 2013 (The New Hampshire Union Leader - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- State Treasurer Catherine Provencher urged lawmakers Tuesday to limit state public works project to $125 million over the next two years. She told House Public Works Committee members that in order to remain in Wall Street's good graces, the state should limit borrowing The limit should include bonds for the University System of New Hampshire projects, she said. For more than a decade, the state has provided at least $30 million a year for construction projects for the system. The university system requested $180 million in construction projects for the upcoming capital budget, which will be finalized by June 30. State agencies have requested more than $500 million in public works projects, so if lawmakers are to meet the $125 million limit, many will have to wait. Among the requests are $61 million from the Department of Corrections, mostly for a new women's prison, and $42 million from Health and Human Services, mostly for a new computer system. The House Public Works Committee will be the first to modify the capital budget presented by Gov. Maggie Hassan in February. Once the House approves its capital budget, the Senate must decide what to include. [email protected] ___ (c)2013 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |