1993-01-22                     House Journal                      Page 0134
HB 83                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 83 by the House Rules Committee by request of                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act making appropriations for construction and major                      
maintenance of schools; and providing for an effective date."                  
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education & Social         
Services and Finance Committees.                                               
                                                                               
The following fiscal notes apply:                                              
                                                                               
Revenue note, Dept. of Revenue, 1/22/93                                        
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities, 1/22/93         
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter, dated January 22, 1993, appears             
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Barnes:                                                          
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am     
transmitting a bill making $150,000,000 in capital appropriations for          
construction and major maintenance of Alaska's public schools.                 
                                                                               
Section 1 of the bill appropriates $107,688,000 to the school                  
construction grant fund to finance life, health, and safety construction       
projects in our public schools which are necessary to avert imminent           
dangers.  These appropriations will fulfill the existing backlog of this       
category of needs, plus fund several other essential capital projects to       
help meet projected student enrollment increases in the near future.           
                                                                               
Section 2 of the bill appropriates $42,312,000 to a major maintenance          
grant fund to finance costs of certain repairs to many of our public           

1993-01-22                     House Journal                      Page 0135
HB 83                                                                        
schools.  These appropriations are cost-effective because making               
repairs now can often avoid major rebuilding or construction costs             
later.  Also, some of the projects may make the schools more energy            
efficient, which will likely have long-term energy savings for the state.      
                                                                               
The appropriation amounts in both secs. 1 and 2 of the bill assume that        
the local community will financially participate in each project in order      
to fully fund it.  Requiring a local community participating share             
should allow limited state dollars to go farther in financing capital          
needs in our public schools.  Such a requirement also may increase             
local community interest in the size, design, and cost of the overall          
project and in prioritizing the project against other community needs          
for state funding.                                                             
                                                                               
The need for additional capital money has been supported by the state          
Board of Education.  I urge support, as well, for these important              
projects.  Finally, while some may question the use of the earnings            
reserve account in the permanent fund for these projects, I can see no         
higher use for this money than to improve our public schools in order          
to provide quality educational facilities for our children.  Alaska's          
children deserve the finest to help them learn to their greatest               
capacities.                                                                    
                                                                               
      Sincerely,                                                               
      /s/                                                                      
      Walter J. Hickel                                                         
      Governor"