Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert issued a statement Monday, March 17 in response to the recently passed federal Continuing Resolution Funding bill that was passed by Congress on March 14. The bill prevented a government shutdown, but the Mayor said it also has direct financial implications for projects in Duluth.

“Congress recently passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year,” said Mayor Roger Reinert. “While this provides some budget certainty at the federal level, it also means the loss of funding for two critical infrastructure projects. The City of Duluth will not receive $1.5 million in funding for the Lakewood Water Treatment Plant.”

Mayor Reinert continued that the City of Duluth remains confident the $11.2 million in RAISE funding
received earlier this year will be applied to the Aerial Lift Bridge.

“While the $1.5 million loss to funding the Lakewood Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation is disappointing, the City of Duluth will continue to work with local legislators to secure state funding. These critical upgrades to our regional water infrastructure are not just required by the EPA, but they are the right thing to do to protect the best drinking water in Minnesota,” said Mayor Reinert.

In an interview with WDIO, Reinert stated that these two projects were critical for the city, and would be moving forward no matter how they were paid for.

“The bottom line is any additional dollars we get from the state or federal government will decrease what we need to ask residents and businesses to pay. If we don’t get help from the state or federal government, the money we need to make these improvements are gonna have to come from the users.”