Public buildings, particularly those owned by the government, are very helpful to people. Oftentimes, these important structures are old and in dire need of roof repair and upgrades to make them more efficient and, at the same time, safer for the general public.
Upgrading old structures, however, is a costly job that requires a lot of funding. Thankfully, a new bill meant to provide more ways to finance the rehabilitation and improvement of government-owned buildings is awaiting approval from Congress.
The Public Buildings Renewal Act of 2019 aims to incentivize public-private partnerships (P3s), where private financing is used to rehabilitate and improve public structures such as schools and government offices. With this act, private funding will help public buildings function better.
The commercial and residential roofing industry supports this bill, which is believed to encourage private investment in public infrastructure. If approved, it will provide a $5 billion boost to the country’s budget, which will be used for the following:
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Elementary or secondary schools
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Facilities in state colleges or universities used for educational purposes
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Hospital or health care facilities
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Laboratories or research facilities used by a governmental unit
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Public safety facilities;
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Public libraries
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Courts of law
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Offices for government employees
Buildings excluded from the funding include:
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Private or commercial golf courses
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Country clubs
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Massage parlors, hot tub facilities and suntan facilities
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Tennis clubs
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Skating facilities (including roller skating, skateboard and ice skating)
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Racquet sports facilities (including any handball or racquetball court)
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Racetracks
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Convention centers
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Sports stadia or arenas
The $5 billion will also result into these benefits:
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Better, safer schools for the kids
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Efficient and safe government offices
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Improved public service facilities, such as police stations, courts, jails
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Overdue improvements and repairs being made to important structures like libraries
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More work opportunities arising from a steady stream of infrastructure repairs and upgrades
M&A Exterior Home Improvement, a trusted roofing contractor in the area, supports this legislation as we believe that it will bring benefits to the people. While the government helps us have better public infrastructure, we can help you with your home improvement needs. Call us at (757) 942-2700 or fill out our online form for a free estimate.
