HF 3768

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/14/2024 11:07am

A bill for an act
relating to the Public Facilities Authority; increasing the maximum grant amount
for the water infrastructure funding program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022,
section 446A.072, subdivision 5a.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 446A.072, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:

Subd. 5a.

Type and amount of assistance.

(a) For a governmental unit receiving grant
funding from the USDA/RECD, the authority may provide assistance in the form of a grant
of up to 65 percent of the eligible grant need determined by USDA/RECD. A governmental
unit may not receive a grant under this paragraph for more than deleted text begin $5,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $10,000,000 new text end
per project or $20,000 per existing connection, whichever is less, unless specifically approved
by law.

(b) For a governmental unit receiving a loan from the clean water revolving fund under
section 446A.07, the authority may provide assistance under this section in the form of a
grant if the average annual residential wastewater system cost after completion of the project
would otherwise exceed 1.4 percent of the median household income of the project service
area. In determining whether the average annual residential wastewater system cost would
exceed 1.4 percent, the authority must consider the total costs associated with building,
operating, and maintaining the wastewater system, including existing wastewater debt
service, debt service on the eligible project cost, and operation and maintenance costs. Debt
service costs for the proposed project are calculated based on the maximum loan term
permitted for the clean water revolving fund loan under section 446A.07, subdivision 7.
The amount of the grant is equal to 80 percent of the amount needed to reduce the average
annual residential wastewater system cost to 1.4 percent of median household income in
the project service area, to a maximum of deleted text begin $5,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $10,000,000 new text end per project or $20,000
per existing connection, whichever is less, unless specifically approved by law. The eligible
project cost is determined by multiplying the total project costs minus any other grants by
the essential project component percentage calculated under subdivision 3, paragraph (c),
clause (1). In no case may the amount of the grant exceed 80 percent of the eligible project
cost.

(c) For a governmental unit receiving a loan from the drinking water revolving fund
under section 446A.081, the authority may provide assistance under this section in the form
of a grant if the average annual residential drinking water system cost after completion of
the project would otherwise exceed 1.2 percent of the median household income of the
project service area. In determining whether the average annual residential drinking water
system cost would exceed 1.2 percent, the authority must consider the total costs associated
with building, operating, and maintaining the drinking water system, including existing
drinking water debt service, debt service on the eligible project cost, and operation and
maintenance costs. Debt service costs for the proposed project are calculated based on the
maximum loan term permitted for the drinking water revolving fund loan under section
446A.081, subdivision 8, paragraph (c). The amount of the grant is equal to 80 percent of
the amount needed to reduce the average annual residential drinking water system cost to
1.2 percent of median household income in the project service area, to a maximum of
deleted text begin $5,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $10,000,000 new text end per project or $20,000 per existing connection, whichever is less,
unless specifically approved by law. The eligible project cost is determined by multiplying
the total project costs minus any other grants by the essential project component percentage
calculated under subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (1). In no case may the amount of the
grant exceed 80 percent of the eligible project cost.

(d) Notwithstanding the limits in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), for a governmental unit
receiving supplemental assistance under this section after January 1, 2002, if the authority
determines that the governmental unit's construction and installation costs are significantly
increased due to geological conditions of crystalline bedrock or karst areas and discharge
limits that are more stringent than secondary treatment, the maximum award under this
section shall not be more than $25,000 per existing connection.