State makes its stimulus wish list

Patrick, lawmakers seeking federal funds

Eight of Massachusetts' 10 congressional representatives met with Governor Deval Patrick at the State House yesterday. From left are James McGovern, Steven F. Lynch, Patrick, Edward J. Markey, Richard E. Neal, Michael Capuano, John Tierney, Niki Tsongas, and William Delahunt. (DAVID L. RYAN/GLOBE STAFF)

Governor Deval Patrick yesterday unveiled a $4.7 billion wish list of state projects that could be jump-started immediately under a federal stimulus package, putting hundreds of thousands to work building new roads, repairing old schools, and making public buildings more energy efficient.

During a day of strategy sessions with the congressional delegation and State House leaders, Patrick said a massive infusion of federal funds could help revitalize the state's economy and offset some of the deep budget cuts he may soon have to make. The sessions were held as news continued to swirl about President-elect Barack Obama's plans for a stimulus package of as much as $850 billion, which he said he wants to sign soon after taking office Jan. 20.

"We believe we can both revive our economy today and rebuild Massachusetts for tomorrow," Patrick said yesterday afternoon after a meeting with Cabinet members and legislative, municipal, and labor leaders. "We've got to get ready for that."

The list of projects, which is not ranked and may far exceed what the state ultimately receives, includes $1.3 billion to fix school buildings; $702 million for municipal projects, such as improvements to wastewater treatment plants and repairs to seawalls; $548 million for improving energy infrastructure, such as installing solar panels on municipal buildings and replacing state cars with hybrid models; $783 million for transportation projects; and $619 million for state-owned buildings.

The projects range from $400,000 for tunnel signs in Boston to $1.2 million to resurface Route 2 in Lincoln; from $500,000 to update the judiciary's phone system to $18 million to renovate the library on the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth campus; from $18,118 for driveways and sidewalk improvements in West Bridgewater to $6 million to replace 20,000 trees that were removed because of Asian longhorn beetle infestation.

The projects were picked because the planning and design is far enough along that they could be started within six months if the new president and Congress follow through on plans to include state aid in a stimulus package that will probably be debated next month. Patrick has assembled a second list of $23.3 billion in projects that could be started within two years.

"You have to prime the pump," said Senate President Therese Murray. "And this is going to prime the pump."

House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi said the money was essential to help the state contend with "the worst economy I've seen in my public life."

"We need it sorely," he said. "We need it badly."

With states across the country confronting large budget cuts, governors are hoping to reap federal dollars for public works projects that could provide jobs and stimulate local economies.

While it is unclear how the money would be divided among the states, Obama has said there would be a "use it or lose it" policy on the federal aid, which means states that are unprepared to spend the money could be at a disadvantage. A stimulus package would also probably trigger fierce competition in Washington, D.C., as congressional delegations fight to bring money home.

"We don't want to be in a position to leave any dollars on the table," Patrick said yesterday.

The governor said he would form several task forces to evaluate the list and decide which projects should be done first. He also plans to appoint a project manager soon to lead the entire effort.

"These are extraordinarily uncertain times," said Cathy E. Minehan, former head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and a Patrick adviser. "But uncertainty is no reason for paralysis. Planning is absolutely critical."

There are a host of other issues that remain unclear. Whether certain projects will need to be approved by the Legislature, for example, depends on how the federal stimulus package is structured. It is also unclear how the state would award the projects and who would get the jobs. Patrick said yesterday that some of the projects might well include a Project Labor Agreement, which requires hiring to be done through a union referral system.

During his morning meeting with the state's congressional delegation, Patrick strategized about how to secure - and then spend - money in the federal stimulus package.

"We're your team," US Representative Edward J. Markey told Patrick at the beginning of the meeting, before it was closed to the news media. "We need your guidance, your leadership, to let us know how you want this package structured so it will benefit Massachusetts to the maximum extent possible."

The meeting brought eight of the state's 10 congressional members to the corner office of the State House. US Representative Barney Frank, a Newton Democrat, and US Representative John W. Olver, an Amherst Democrat, were involved through a conference call.

"I was surprised that the governor already had a list of projects that are ready to go," said US Representative Stephen F. Lynch, a South Boston Democrat. "Every city and town would like to have some type of relief, and they'll get it to certain degrees. But there are some projects already teed up and ready to go, and that's where we want the resources to go."

Members of the congressional delegation said they did not worry that the Big Dig, lampooned for being long delayed and overbudget, would hurt the state's chances of getting federal money for public works projects. But several said the project would play into how the money would be doled out in Massachusetts.

"There were many good projects across the state that were held up because of the Big Dig," said US Representative Richard E. Neal, a Springfield Democrat. "Those of us who represent Central and Western Massachusetts wanted assurance that this would be an initiative that would treat the 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth equally. . . . There's a bigger state out there than Boston."

Although a federal stimulus package would create jobs and improve the state's infrastructure, it would probably do little to solve the current budget crunch. State forecasters said this week that there is up to $749 million less revenue than projected just two months ago.

Patrick has not said how he plans to close the gap, and Republican lawmakers yesterday sent out a statement calling on the governor to come up with a solution soon.

"We can't afford to be all talk and no action," read the statement, signed by the four top Republicans. "This is something that needs to be addressed immediately, and if the governor is not willing to do it, then the Legislature should step in and do what needs to be done."

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com