1993-02-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0224
SB 89                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 89 by the Senate Rules Committee by request                    
of the Governor, entitled:                                                     
                                                                               
"An Act making appropriations for capital project                             
matching grant programs; and providing for an                                  
effective date."                                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Community and Regional             
Affairs and Finance Committees.                                                
                                                                               
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 3:                                
                                                                               
Dear Mr. President:                                                            
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution,          
I am transmitting a bill making appropriations totaling $67,000,000            
for capital project matching grant programs in the Department of               
Administration and the Department of Community and Regional                    
Affairs.                                                                       
                                                                               
Today I am also transmitting a companion bill that establishes those           
programs in statute, to provide funding for essential capital projects         
in municipalities and unincorporated communities and to establish              
local share requirements for these projects.                                   
                                                                               
As provided in the companion bill establishing the two capital                 
project matching grant programs, the appropriations to the two funds           
will be allocated under two formulas to individual grant accounts for          
municipalities and unincorporated communities.  My office of                   
management and budget will provide information that shows the                  
allocation amounts that would result from these appropriations under           
those formulas.  Subsequent project-specific appropriations will be            
necessary for municipalities and unincorporated communities to draw            
project grant money from their individual grant accounts.  The                 
appropriations requested in the attached bill assume that                      
municipalities and unincorporated communities will contribute a local          
share toward each capital project, which will maximize limited state           
money for those projects.                                                      
                                                                               
These appropriations will help improve Alaska's health centers,                
senior centers, women's shelters, youth centers, and other structures          

1993-02-03                     Senate Journal                      Page 0225
SB 89                                                                        
essential to providing quality social and health programs in local             
areas of our state.  Also, these appropriations may improve our                
energy systems, provide weatherization to save energy in funded                
projects, and make other improvements for more efficient program               
administration in funded projects.  Finally, these appropriations will         
be available to provide essential infrastructure to encourage economic         
development, especially in the rural areas of our state.  Alaska must          
have up-to-date capital structure and technology in order to                   
successfully compete in today's rapidly changing markets.                      
                                                                               
I seek and encourage your support for this bill.                               
                                                                               
      Sincerely,                                                               
      /s/                                                                      
      Walter J. Hickel                                                         
      Governor