Legislature(2011 - 2012)
2012-02-27 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2012-02-27 Senate Journal Page 1656 SB 184 Letter dated February 24, regarding SENATE BILL NO. 184 "An Act making supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, and other appropriations; amending appropriations; repealing appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date" was received stating: Dear President Stevens and Speaker Chenault: There are two items in the FY 2012 supplemental bill I submitted to you on January 31 - HB 307 and SB 184 - that require your earliest consideration. I respectfully request expedited movement on disaster related supplemental funding and military force structure funding. As you know, this past fall and winter in Alaska have been challenging. I issued disaster declarations for the 2011 West Coast Storm, the 2011 Kenai Peninsula Windstorm, and the 2012 Prince William Sound Winter Storm. Initial expenditures have been limited in all three disasters to $1,000,000 each per AS 26.23.020(k)(1). 2012-02-27 Senate Journal Page 1657 State funding for these storms is currently estimated to be: 2011 West Coast Storm Disaster $4,621,435 2011 Kenai Peninsula Windstorm $2,303,464 2012 Prince William Sound Storm $3,633,029 While there are sufficient funds available within the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) for the estimated costs of the disasters listed above, we are unable to make payments in excess of the $1,000,000 for each storm until legislative approval is obtained through the supplemental request. We fully expect that there will be increased costs associated with these storms, as well as other events such as spring flooding, that will require additional resources. Our original supplemental request for the Disaster Relief Fund was $3.0 million. Since that time, it has been estimated we will need another $2.0 million to cover anticipated needs. Therefore, I am requesting your approval to increase the balance of the DRF by $5.0 million in an early supplemental. I am also requesting your early approval of $300,000 for our efforts to support and sustain Alaska's current military facilities and statewide force structure. The U.S. military presence in Alaska represents ten percent of the state's economy. The Alaska Military Force Advocacy and Structure Team (AMFAST) recommends that the State provide resources to counter the U.S. Department of Defense plans to reduce military spending through a Base Realignment and Closure Commission. We must begin this work immediately, and these funds will be used to contract for specific expertise in this area from now through June of 2013. I welcome your expedited consideration of these two supplemental requests. Sincerely, /s/ Sean Parnell Governor President Stevens referred the letter to the Finance Committee.