By Keith M. Phaneuf / CTMirror.org

With the autumn stretch of Connecticut’s election season less than two months away, the State Bond Commission approved more than $850 million in financing Friday, an outlay with more than $60 million for projects in lawmakers’ home districts — including funds for facilities at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.

The projects endorsed by the 10-member panel, chaired by Gov. Ned Lamont, include a major $490 million investment in state highways, bridges, local roads and transportation safety measures. The commission also approved financing for several housing projects, economic development initiatives and more than $150 million for renovations and equipment upgrades for state buildings and parks.

The state parks funding includes $750,000 to renovate a storage facility and add a new equipment storage building at Sherwood Island.

“I’ve visited Sherwood Island State Park with Gov. Lamont on multiple occasions, and it’s clear he understands the regional importance of this beautiful coastal resource,” state Sen. Will Haskell, D-Westport, said in a statement announcing the funding.

“It’s no surprise that he’s stepped up to support infrastructure improvements at Sherwood Island, ensuring the park is prepared to welcome visitors for generations to come,” Haskell added.

Lamont, commenting on the overall bonding package, said. “We’ve tried really hard over the last three and a half  years to hold the line on our fixed costs.”

The Democrat, on assuming office in 2019, challenged the General Assembly to curtail borrowing and embrace a debt diet. “I think we’ve done that pretty effectively,” he said Friday.

Connecticut’s bonded debt has grown 4 percent during Lamont’s first biennial budget cycle. But with more than $27 billion in bonded debt, Connecticut still ranks among the most indebted states, per capita, in the nation.

“Today, I think, you’re going to see … what we’re doing in terms of quality of life, what we’re doing in terms of, you know, those investments in our towns that make an enormous difference,” Lamont added.

The State Bond Commission traditionally approves a significant amount of financing for local projects during the summer or fall in state election years, spread among Democratic- and Republican-controlled districts.

All items endorsed Friday passed unanimously.

Connecticut’s largest cities again fared well.

A total of $7 million was approved for Hartford, including $2 million for brownfield remediation, $1.5 million to plan a walking and cycling park between the capital city and Bloomfield, $1 million for the Elizabeth Park Conservancy and another $1 million for capital improvements to various city-owned properties.

The commission approved $2.6 million in financing for renovations to the Institute Library of New Haven and to relocate the New Haven Trowbridge Youth Center, along with another $6.8 million to support affordable and senior housing projects.

Bridgeport was slated to receive $200,000 to reconstruct Ellsworth Park Field.

The state reserved nearly $1.35 million to replace an emergency generator at Griffin Hospital in Derby; almost $900,000 to upgrade community and school auditoriums in East Hartford; $500,000 to renovate Greenwich’s volunteer fire house; $3 million to upgrade a residential care home in Norwich, and $1 million to rehabilitate sports fields in Stamford.

Lamont said these and other investments in Connecticut’s communities would accelerate the state’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, help generate activity in municipal downtown areas and promote economic growth.

To complement these community investments, the bond commission approved nearly $70 million in financing for various housing projects — most involving affordable units — and another $70 million for small business supports and other economic development initiatives.

The largest investments approved Friday include $490 million earmarked for transportation, with $143 million for bus and railway equipment and other enhancements, $64 million for local road improvement grants and $20 million for new systems on state highways to detect and deter wrong-way driving.

Additional information from the Westport Journal.