1999-02-19                     House Journal                      Page 0257
HB 100                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 100 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act making and amending capital, supplemental, and other                  
appropriations, and appropriations to capitalize funds; ratifying              
certain expenditures; and providing for an effective date."                    
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 17, 1999, appears             
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
In recognition of oil revenues being substantially lower than projected        
when the FY99 budget was passed last May, my Administration has                
worked hard to cut the supplemental request as much as possible.               
Although last spring's budget plan included a $16.5 million "place             
holder" for supplementals, the expenditures for fires, flood and               
fisheries disasters alone exceed that amount by more than $3 million.          
                                                                               
                                                                               
Other critical supplementals have been brought down to  $901,700 by            
identifying cuts to offset short-funded areas and by requiring agencies        
to absorb many other unexpected cost increases.  The $6.3 million in           
belt-tightening I announced two weeks ago for hiring, travel and               
purchasing can cover both this $901,700 and $5.3 million needed for            
Corrections to comply with court orders in the Cleary settlement.              
                                                                               
                                                                               

1999-02-19                     House Journal                      Page 0258
HB 100                                                                       
While this supplemental is $5 million more than the place holder in the        
budget plan it represents a concerted effort by state agencies to offset       
the  financial impact of disasters, known short-funding, and                   
unanticipated expenditures for FY99.  Further budget reductions will           
be part of the work still ahead of us on the FY2000 budget.                    
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"