2000-01-14                     House Journal                      Page 1922
HB 287                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 287 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act making and amending capital appropriations and                        
reappropriations and capitalizing funds; and providing for an                  
effective date."                                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                 
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 12, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
I am transmitting to you today my proposed capital budget for                  
FY2001. Together with two bond authorization proposals for schools             
and transportation which you will receive separately, it represents a          
solid investment to meet the most critical needs for Alaska's economic         
development and basic public services such as education, transportation        
and public protection.                                                         
                                                                               
We all know that a single year's budget cannot handle the sheer                
magnitude of what's needed to repair all our aging state facilities and        
bring all our transportation and technology systems up to current              
standards.  This year,  I  believe we should focus our most extensive          

2000-01-14                     House Journal                      Page 1923
HB 287                                                                       
efforts in the areas of education and transportation because we have           
time-sensitive obligations and opportunities to clear the enormous             
backlogs there.                                                                
                                                                               
Nevertheless, we cannot ignore needs in other areas such as critical           
deferred maintenance projects, new computer systems required by the            
federal government, water and sewer systems, and safety equipment for          
child protection and public safety personnel. This budget makes                
necessary investments in these basic areas as well as some strategic           
economic development projects.                                                 
                                                                               
This $936 million capital appropriations bill includes $101.6 million          
in general funds and $706.4 million in federal funds.  AHFC capital            
funds remain at $52 million and the $18.5 million AIDEA dividend is            
again recommended principally for the community capital matching               
grants program.                                                                
                                                                               
I look forward to working with you to put together a responsible               
capital budget for the first year of the new millennium.                       
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"