Legislature(1995 - 1996)
1996-06-03 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1996-06-03 Senate Journal Page 4249 SB 1012 SENATE BILL NO. 1012 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: An Act making, amending, and repealing appropriations; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. Governor's transmittal letter dated June 3: Dear President Pearce: At the start of the special session, I introduced a budget bill to complete the work left undone in the operating and capital budget bills passed in the regular session. As I indicated at the time, the bill represented all our issues of concern after the Conference Committee completed its report. I remained willing to work through a compromise package with you to complete a balanced budget for FY97. As you return to finish the special session, I am transmitting to you a pared down version of my earlier request. This reduced budget package balances the budget and meets your goal of cutting $70 million from the current year. It does so while fully funding the employee contracts and non-represented employee wage adjustments so we can avert a government shutdown next month. The budget you passed on May 7 left some critical holes in programs and capital projects for Alaskan families and jobs. I believe this is unwise and, in some cases, unsafe. I continue to believe that a few of the legislatures budget cuts should be restored. Most of these can be funded with reappropriations from completed capital projects or anticipated left-over FY96 funds from formula programs which will cost less than projected a year ago. 1996-06-03 Senate Journal Page 4250 SB 1012 Despite characterizations of my proposals as a budget addition, it is not an increase over FY96. Some legislators have flatly rejected our proposals to use prior year funds to meet critical FY97 needs. However, I would point out that the budget you passed on May 7 already includes the legislatures own proposals for more than $6.4 million in capital reappropriations and $3.2 million in anticipated lapsed school foundation funds. I have been discussing our current budget situation with people around the state over the past two weeks. I find them to be incredulous that we would allow government services to come to a standstill over such a small difference in a $2.4 billion budget. The public understands that we will have more cuts to make and public service challenges to meet. They want us to complete a balanced budget without further delay and know that it will require compromise on both sides to achieve this. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor