Legislature(2007 - 2008)
04/09/2008 05:45 PM House FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB221 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 9, 2008
5:45 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 5:45:10 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Les Gara
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Bill Thomas Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Mary Nelson
ALSO PRESENT
Pete Ecklund, Staff, Representative Kevin Meyer;
Representative Woodie Salmon; Representative Fairclough.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Michael Melielo, President, Chugiak Eagle Chamber Of
Commerce; Beth Landon, Director, Alaska Center Rural Health,
University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA); Cynthia Henry, Board
Of Regents, University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF); Jim
Czarnezki, Soldotna; Rodney Clark, President, Goose Lake
Foundation, Anchorage; Mike Navarre, Arctic Power,
Anchorage; David Smith, North Slope Borough Rural Villages,
Anchorage ; Gary Olson, Chairman, Alaska Moose Federation,
Alaska; Kathy Morgan, Tok Community Umbrella Corp.
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 221(FIN) am
"An Act making and amending appropriations, including
capital appropriations, supplemental appropriations,
and appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing
for an effective date."
Vice-Chair Stoltze MOVED to ADOPT Work Draft for HCS for SB
221(FIN), 25-GS2007\N, Kane, 4/9/08 (Copy on File). There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
5:46:47 PM
PETE ECKLUND, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER, explained
the bill spreadsheet (from "2008 Legislature, Capital
Budget, House District Summary," Copy on File). New sections
have been added to make the bill more understandable. He
highlighted:
· Sec. 4: Slow-track supplemental
· Sec. 7: Formerly vetoed projects
· Sec. 10: Items added by the House and Governor
· Sec. 13: Items added by the Senate and Governor
· Sec. 16: Cruise ship impact funds
· Sec. 19: Informational, including projects in the
General Obligation Transportation Bond bill
Mr. Ecklund pointed out that in the Senate $447 million
worth of Governor's priorities were added into the version
of the Capital Budget, as well as $224 million of House
members' priorities.
Representative Gara asked if the $447 and $224 million was a
combination of General Fund, other and federal funds. He
asked what the totals were for non-federal funds. Mr.
Ecklund answered that for the Governor, $285 million was
General Fund, $48 million was federal, and $114 million was
other. All the funds were state funds in the items added by
the Legislature.
Co-Chair Chenault OPENED PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
The following overview was taken in log note format. All
testifiers testified via teleconference. Handouts will be on
file with the House Finance Committee through the 25th
Legislative Session, contact 465-6814. After the 25th
Legislative Session they will be available through the
Legislative Library at 465-3808.
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
5:50:00 PM MICHAEL Asked for an additional $2 million for
MELIELO, the Eagle River Town Center project,
PRESIDENT, which would revitalize the town core.
CHUGIAK EAGLE It would house the police station,
CHAMBER OF library, medical facilities, and other
COMMERCE departments.
Vice-Chair Spoke to an amendment being offered
Stoltze regarding the project.
5:52:54 PM BETH LANDON, Requested $250,000 for a program
DIRECTOR, preparing youth for local health-care
ALASKA CENTER jobs, called "A Heck of a Summer." The
RURAL HEALTH, funds will not go to the University but
UAA to four health organizations.
5:56:14 PM CYNTHIA HENRY, Supported the revised number of $44
BOARD OF million for badly needed major
REGENTS, UAF, maintenance for University facilities.
FAIRBANKS The Board would like stability in
funding for the University to meet
increasing needs in Alaska for trained
skills.
5:59:15 PM JIM CZARNEZKI, Requested adding $200,000 for the Kenai
SOLDOTNA River Public Use Study which addresses
crowding on the river, the first step
required before DNR can address the
issue of crowding.
6:00:12 PM RODNEY CLARK, Requested appropriation for much needed
PRESIDENT, improvements to the buildings at Goose
GOOSE LAKE Lake Park, a facilities used
FOUNDATION, extensively by at-risk youth.
ANCHORAGE
6:03:19 PM MIKE NAVARRE, Requested $250,000 for Arctic Power to
ARCTIC POWER, increase the staff in D.C. to track
ANCHORAGE threat of the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge being designated as a wilderness
area.
6:06:18 PM DAVID SMITH, Stated concerns about Sec. 32, City of
NORTH SLOPE Nuiqsut youth recreation budgeted for
BOROUGH RURAL $50,000. The reduction would cut the
VILLAGES, staff in half; they need an additional
ANCHORAGE $100,000. The city of Wainwright has
more population than the cities of
Atqasuk and Nuiqsut combined, yet is
allotted far less money. They need an
additional $100,000.
6:08:39 PM GARY OLSON, Asked for an appropriation for Moose
CHAIRMAN, Mitigation Strategies within the
ALASKA MOOSE Department of Transportation Strategic
FEDERATION, Highway Safety Plan to address on-going
ALASKA collisions caused by moose on the
highways. Lives are at stake. They need
$545,000 for equipment; $548,000 for
personnel and overhead, including fuel.
6:12:20 PM KATHY MORGAN, Requested $7 to 10 million for a
TOK COMMUNITY project turning spruce trees in extreme
UMBRELLA wildfire danger into chips to be burned
CORPORATION in wood-chip boilers to heat public
buildings. The project would
significantly reduce fire danger and
heating costs for six communities,
create a local sustainable economy, and
improve the health of the forest.
6:14:27 PM AT EASE
6:15:47 PM RECONVENE
Co-Chair PUBLIC TESTIMONY CLOSED.
Chenault
6:16:33 PM RECESSED SB 221 was HEARD and HELD in Committee
for further consideration.
7:32:43 PM # The meeting was adjourned at 7:33 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
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