ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty is proposing $685 million in state borrowing in building projects this year.
Pawlenty had promised what he called an "austere" package, and his proposal is well below what some leading Democrats have suggested. Higher education would get nearly one-third of the money in the governor's proposal, or about $246 million.
Transportation projects would get $159 million.
Pawlenty also says the state has reached a deal to pay U.S. Steel $18 million for land to make a state park near Lake Vermilion.
That's a project that has been hung up in difficult budget negotiations since it was first suggested two years ago, and a deal would still need legislative approval.
