Legislature(2015 - 2016)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/14/2015 06:00 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB26 | |
| Public Testimony: Statewide | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 14, 2015
6:03 p.m.
6:03:59 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Thompson called the House Finance Committee
meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mark Neuman, Co-Chair
Representative Steve Thompson, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Saddler, Vice-Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Les Gara
Representative Lynn Gattis
Representative David Guttenberg
Representative Scott Kawasaki
Representative Cathy Munoz
Representative Lance Pruitt
Representative Tammie Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Paul Fuhs, Board Chairman, Marine Exchange of Alaska,
Juneau; Ed Page, Executive Director, Marine Exchange of
Alaska, Juneau; Carl Uchytil, Alaska Association of
Harbormasters and Port Administrators, Juneau; Dave Donley,
Hope Community Resources, Juneau; Alyse Galvin, Great
Alaska Schools, Juneau; Deena Mitchell, Great Alaska
Schools, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Ann Arrisi, Hope Community Resources, Matsu; Chuck Kaucic,
Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation District, Wasilla;
Peter Williams, City of Bethel, Bethel; Brenda Akelkok,
Bristol Bay Housing Authority (BBHA), Dillingham; Kevin
Tennyson, Bristol Bay Housing Authority, Dillingham; Jason
Storter, Rilke Schule, Anchorage; Mariah Storter, Rilke
Schule, Anchorage; Janeen Wilkins, Rilke Schule, Anchorage;
Mitzi Barker, Rural CAP, Chugiak; Joel Neimeyer, Federal
Co-Chair, Denali Commission, Anchorage; Dan Duane,
Association of Alaska Housing Authorities, Anchorage; Erin
Wilson, Deputy Director, Aleutian Housing Authority,
Anchorage; Ulf Asplund, Parent, Anchorage; Gabe Layman,
Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Anchorage; Brendan Wilkins,
Student, Rilke Schule, Anchorage; Kristina Gwyn, Rilke
Schule, Anchorage; David Dobler, Rilke Schule, Anchorage;
Tonja Rambow, Hope Community Resources, Anchorage; Kjersti
Von Wichman, Rilke Schule, Anchorage; Corrie Davis, Hope
Community Resources, Kodiak; Bart Meyer, Executive
Director, Baranof Island Housing Authority, Sitka; Reggie
Joule, Mayor, Northwest Arctic Borough, Kotzebue; Elizabeth
Cravalho, Nana Regional Corporation, Kotzebue; Joel Alowa,
Maniilaq Association, Kotzebue; Samantha Mitz-Gentz, Direct
Service Advocate, Standing Together Against Rape,
Anchorage; Etta Kuzakin, President, Tribal Council of King
Cove, King Cove; Rick Berns, Mayor, Old Harbor; Dan
Winters, Director, Public Utilities, City of Unalaska;
Kimberly Carlo, Chief Operations Officer, Interior Regional
Housing Authority, Fairbanks; Paul Gill, Self, Fairbanks;
Jack Hebert, CEO, Cold Climate Housing Research Center,
Fairbanks; Scott Bell, Vice Chancellor, Facilities
Services, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks; Bruno
Grunau, Self, Fairbanks; William Dushkin Sr., Aleutian
Housing Authority, Sand Point; Dr. Ann Marie O'Brien,
Superintendent, Northwest Arctic Borough School District,
Kotzebue; Doug Bridges, Alaska Mobility Coalition, Juneau;
Christopher Constant, Fairview Community Council,
Anchorage; Nancy Anderson, Municipality of Anchorage,
Department of Health and Human Services, Anchorage; Marilyn
Houser, Self, Anchorage; Ray Oakley, Parent, Indian;
Kjerstin Lastufka, Parent, Anchorage; Dean Ball, Principal,
Rilke Schule, Anchorage; Carrie Longoria, Victims for
Justice, Anchorage; Christopher Dyke, Self, Anchorage;
Peter Brandorff, Rilke Schule, Anchorage; Emily Davies,
Data Analyst, Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Intervention Program, Anchorage; Vanessa Wise, Rilke
Schule, Anchorage; Jack Walker, Self, Anchorage; Bryan
Clemenz, Self, Anchorage; James Kurth, Parent, Anchorage;
Joni Scharfenberg, Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation
District, Fairbanks; James Wileman, Parent, Anchorage;
Molly Rettig, Self, Fairbanks; Daniel Blair, Mayor,
Whittier; Carolyn Ramsey, Citizens for Responsible
Development, Anchorage; Bryan Anderson, Rilke Schule,
Anchorage; Chantal Walsh, Self, Anchorage; Chris Turetes,
Facilities Director, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage.
SUMMARY
SB 26 BUDGET: CAPITAL
SB 26 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Thompson discussed the agenda for the evening.
CSSB 26(FIN)
"An Act making and amending appropriations, including
capital appropriations, supplemental appropriations,
reappropriations, and other appropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds; 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."
6:05:15 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: STATEWIDE
6:05:17 PM
PAUL FUHS, BOARD CHAIRMAN, MARINE EXCHANGE OF ALASKA,
JUNEAU, placed himself on record.
ED PAGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARINE EXCHANGE OF ALASKA,
JUNEAU, provided background information about the Marine
Exchange of Alaska, a non-profit organization. He explained
that the exchange provided a portion of Alaska's vessel
tracking system. He reported that in past years the State
of Alaska provided approximately $600 thousand per year.
He furthered that the United States Coast Guard (USCG)
contributed $1.2 million per year and the marine industry
contributed another $1.5 per year to the system. He
referred to a briefing packet provided to committee
members. He stated that on page two of the handout the
graphic showed 120 vessel tracking sites throughout Alaska
built by the Marine Exchange to aid maritime safety. He
pointed to another graphic which showed the marine traffic
in the Arctic. He asked the committee for the same funding
support as provided in past years. He mentioned that the
Marine Exchange met the qualifying criteria to receive
cruise ship head tax funds set aside for services provided
for the maritime industry. He asked for continued funding
for the program.
Mr. Fuhs gave a brief description of the movement of the
appropriation in the budget. He explained that the funds
were matching federal funds and from designated funds in
the operating budget. The finance subcommittee felt that
the appropriation should come from the capital budget
rather than the operating budget; therefore, it had been
removed. However, the funds were not placed into the
capital budget. He asked the committee to consider using
money from the cruise ship head tax to fund the exchange.
6:08:25 PM
Representative Munoz acknowledged that the Marine Exchange
of Alaska had received $600 thousand from the state every
year for many years. She asked about the potential effects
of the lost funding.
Mr. Page stated that there were currently gaps in coverage
existing in the Arctic. The exchange was trying to fill
gaps by expanding the vessel tracking system. He relayed
that the USCG provided funding for the 24-hour operation
center, but the state had been the builder of the vessel
tracking sites throughout Alaska. He reported that the
shipping traffic was increasing, and without filling the
gaps important information would not be captured.
6:09:44 PM
CARL UCHYTIL, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF HARBORMASTERS AND PORT
ADMINISTRATORS, JUNEAU, testified in support of the Alaska
Municipal Harbor Grant Program, a 50-50 match program. He
represented 37 harbors throughout Alaska. He reported $4.4
million in the program currently. He relayed that his
membership asked for $14 million. He explained that the
grant program was worthwhile. He stated that, previously,
harbors were state owned and were transferred to
municipalities. He mentioned that the grant program was the
only mechanism for many harbors to recapitalize the state's
facilities over 50 years old. The association was
requesting a $250 thousand increment which would allow for
a $1.2 million boat ramp to be in Anchorage. He commented
that it was very rare that Anchorage had the opportunity to
participate in the matching grant program.
6:11:53 PM
DAVE DONLEY, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, JUNEAU, spoke on
behalf of Hope Community Resources. He detailed Hope's
services in housing for Alaskan's with disabilities. He
reported that Hope Community Resources had received funding
in the state's capital budget for many years. He outlined
the current budget request of $361 thousand to pay for
life-safety projects. He conveyed that $125 thousand of the
request was for projects mandated by the state in order to
comply with licensing requirements. He reported that in
2013 the average operating budget savings was $79,487 per
individual housed by Hope Community Resources. He continued
to provide statistics about additional savings to the
state's operating budget, comparing Hope's cost of care to
other institutional care. He informed the committee of the
additional benefits and savings the state would realize by
continuing to support Hope Community Resources. He also
reported significant growth in the Medicaid waiver system
creating greater demand for housing for the disabled. He
urged the committee to continue its support for Hope
Community Resources.
6:14:08 PM
ANN ARRISI, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, MAT-SU (via
teleconference), urged support for a capital request in the
amount of $361 thousand. She reported that Hope Community
Resources supported over 1,400 disabled Alaskans including
children. She expressed her concern with significant
quality of life challenges without state support. The
funding included support for state mandated safety
improvements. She communicated that without capital funding
Hope would serve fewer Alaskans. She referred to a 2009
Legislative Research Services Report which indicated a cost
savings of $10 thousand per recipient between the home and
community-based waiver and nursing homes. She concluded
that the home or community-based waiver was the most
fiscally responsible choice and encouraged the committee to
offer its support.
6:16:32 PM
CHUCK KAUCIC, WASILLA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT,
WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke on behalf of
conservation throughout Alaska and particularly Wasilla. He
provided a brief background regarding conservation
districts. Conservation was manifested in Alaska through
the Alaska Association for the Conservation Districts
(AACD), formed in 1947. He relayed that without base
funding the Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation District
would be out of business or significantly diminished; AACD,
as the blanket organization in Alaska, had submitted a
capital request that would be distributed across the state.
At the district level, Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation
had made its capital request that would be applied to four
specific projects which he detailed. He asked the committee
to support conservation in Alaska and thanked the committee
for its time.
6:18:58 PM
PETER WILLIAMS, CITY OF BETHEL, BETHEL (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of the municipal harbor
facilities grant. He reviewed the requirements of the grant
and encouraged members to fund the grant program at the
current level. He thanked the committee for its time.
6:20:53 PM
BRENDA AKELKOK, BRISTOL BAY HOUSING AUTHORITY (BBHA),
DILLINGHAM (via teleconference), urged the committee to
provide any amount of funding for the Alaska Finance
Housing Corporation Supplemental Housing Development
Program. She relayed that the supplemental housing grant
leveraged 80 percent more funding from the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She stated that
without the supplemental grant, BBHA would no longer be
able to build 5 houses per year. A village may have to wait
30 years for a new home versus 15 years. She stated that
BBHA would be losing experienced and trained crews with
expertise in building energy efficient homes. She urged
members to consider restoring any line items for any
amounts for the Alaska Housing Supplemental Grant.
6:22:50 PM
KEVIN TENNYSON, BRISTOL BAY HOUSING AUTHORITY, DILLINGHAM
(via teleconference), spoke in favor of the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation (AHFC) Weatherization Grant Program. He
communicated that in 2008 the budget for the program had
been $4 million, which had been utilized for 100 homes.
Presently the budget was $1.4 million, which would cover 43
homes. The weatherization targeted senior citizens on a
fixed income. He detailed that energy bills were cut almost
in half. He elaborated that weatherization targeted
children under six years old to protect them from
respiratory problems that were caused by black mold. The
program provided jobs for plumbers, carpenters,
electricians, and laborers in the Bristol Bay region. He
implored the committee to support funding for the program.
6:24:50 PM
JASON STORTER, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
charter school Rilke Schule. He was gravely concerned by
the direction the budget had taken regarding the school's
finances. He relayed that if funds were not restored to the
capital budget the school was headed in a crash and burn
direction. He elaborated that the school had contractually
obligated itself using funds designated to the program from
the previous legislative session. He provided detail on the
school. He asked if the legislature realized that the
school operated on one-third less than Alaska's traditional
schools, while outperforming nearly all of them. He
stressed that the school's 480 students were counting on
the legislature to do what was right to save their school.
MARIAH STORTER, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of the restoration of funds
to Rilke Schule. She stated that the removal of the
school's allocated state funds from the prior year had put
it in a position of failure. She underscored that as the
largest charter school, it already operated on a budget
that was significantly lower than that of other schools.
She expected the state to adequately fund the program,
which outperformed on less. She urged the committee to save
the program.
6:27:45 PM
JANEEN WILKINS, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the restoration of
funds to Rilke Schule. She communicated that the removal of
funds designated the prior year had put the school in a
crisis. She reasoned that other programs the legislature
could cut involved capable adults who could understand what
was being taken. She stressed that children did not have
the same ability; children would not understand why
suddenly they did not have the tools or the people needed
to succeed at school and in life. She reasoned that
children were expected to grow and learn on a daily basis;
adults were supposed to set an example on responsibility.
6:29:14 PM
MITZI BARKER, RURAL CAP, CHUGIAK (via teleconference),
spoke in favor of the Low Income Weatherization Assistance
Program. She detailed that the program warmed homes and
decreased fuel costs for low income Alaskans. Additionally,
the program provided economic benefits in the form of jobs
and orders for materials and freight services. She stated
that rural Alaskans commonly paid approximately 50 percent
of their income for heating fuel. She elaborated that the
program saved rural families more than $2,300 annually on
fuel. She reasoned that the investment continued to
generate high returns year after year. She asked the
committee to consider decreasing the proposed 76 percent
cut to 27 percent, which would provide the program with $20
million. She urged the committee members to support the
program.
6:31:49 PM
JOEL NEIMEYER, FEDERAL CO-CHAIR, DENALI COMMISSION,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in favor of the
Denali Commission federal/state partnership grant. He
relayed that a $3 million grant had been authorized in
2011. He shared that there were still administrative
barriers in transporting the state funding to the
commission related in indemnification agreement issues. He
elaborated that a workaround had been developed in FY 14
and $1.64 million had been provided for a power project.
The commission had identified a power project for cost-
share match, but there were currently issues being worked
on. He stated that the proposed action of cutting $1.36
million would delay construction by a minimum of one year.
He relayed that he would be in Juneau the following day and
hope to speak to members personally about reinstating the
funds.
6:33:52 PM
DAN DUANE, ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA HOUSING AUTHORITIES,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), shared that the Association
of Alaska Housing Authorities consisted of 14 regional
housing authorities. He detailed that the authorities were
conduits for significant federal and state funds and were
the primary providers of affordable housing in rural and
urban Alaska. He spoke in support of the Weatherization
Program and the Supplemental Housing Development Grant
Program funded through the Alaska Housing Finance
Corporation (AHFC). He believed both programs warranted
state investment even in difficult budgetary times. He
relayed that both programs served beneficiaries throughout
the state and provided short and long-term returns on
investment. He shared statistics related to high energy
costs and inadequate ventilation in homes throughout the
state. He stated that approximately 18,000 units would have
been weatherized by March 2016, which saved Alaskans close
to $50 million annually. He relayed that the Supplemental
Housing Development Grant Program provided a 20 percent
match to federal HUD funds for energy efficiency measures
and other critical infrastructure needs. He urged the
committee to support the programs.
6:36:59 PM
ERIN WILSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ALEUTIAN HOUSING AUTHORITY,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in favor of the AHFC
Supplemental Housing Development Grant Program and the
Weatherization Program. She detailed that the supplemental
housing program had been developed in 1980. She elaborated
that the program had been incredibly valuable in
supplementing and leveraging federal, state, and private
resources; it provided development gap funding that enabled
projects to move forward. She stressed that without the
funding the program and services would decrease
significantly. She emphasized that rural communities would
be particularly hard hit. She communicated that the
supplemental grant program provided a 20 percent match for
the total development cost for energy efficiency and other
necessary infrastructure costs (e.g. water, sewer,
electrical distribution, and access roads). She relayed
that the program had a federal/state funding ratio of 5 to
1. She relayed that the program created hundreds of jobs
and resulted in millions of dollars in new infrastructure
and construction related purchases. She spoke to the
governor's support of modest capital funding for the
program. She shared that the Weatherization Program had
enabled her organization to provide energy efficiency
upgrades to 280 homes in the region. She referred to
reductions in the use of diesel fuel and increased savings.
6:39:24 PM
ULF ASPLUND, PARENT, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in favor of funding for Rilke Schule, a public charter
school. He relayed that the school was the only charter
school without its own facility. He communicated that the
removal of funding from the prior year had put the school
into a crisis situation. He discussed that the legislature
had removed the money after the school had entered into a
contractually obligated lease for a new school. He stressed
that it was a substantial problem for the 480 students who
may not have a school in the upcoming fall. He urged the
legislature to do the right thing to make things possible
for the students.
6:40:41 PM
GABE LAYMAN, COOK INLET HOUSING AUTHORITY, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), urged support for the Supplemental Housing
Grant Program administered through AHFC. He reported that
the program was designed to encourage safe, energy
efficient housing throughout the state. He relayed that by
statute the program could fund no more than 20 percent of
the costs for any housing project. He reported that for
every state dollar funded up to nine dollars was matched.
He added that housing in Alaska used three times more
energy per square foot than the national average; the high
cost of energy combined with high consumption had put a
financial squeeze on families and the state. He specified
that families in Interior Alaska paid an average of $8,000
annually for energy costs. He discussed that the program
played a critical role in ensuring that the housing built
and rehabilitated in rural Alaska was energy efficient. The
program mandated compliance with AHFC's building energy
efficiency standard. The program helped to fund some of the
costs of energy efficient design and construction, which
reduced long-term dependency on state-funded programs such
as Power Cost Equalization and the Heating Assistance
Program.
6:42:54 PM
BRENDAN WILKINS, STUDENT, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of funding for Rilke Schule
charter school [he provided a statement in German]. He
implored the committee to save his school. He shared that
he loved his school and loved speaking German.
6:44:13 PM
KRISTINA GWYN, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), urged support for the Rilke Schule charter
school. She associated herself with support for the school
expressed by previous testifiers.
6:44:31 PM
DAVID DOBLER, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of full funding for education and for
Rilke Schule. He believed the state's most importance
resource was its children and that their education was of
the utmost importance. He urged the committee to support
funding for the school.
6:45:06 PM
TONJA RAMBOW, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), asked the committee to support a minimum
of $125,000 for Hope Community Resources. She relayed that
the requested funds reduced the capital and operating
budget; without the Hope residences the budget would rise
to pay for more expensive institutional care. She detailed
that the request served the neediest Alaskans; residents
were disabled and were entitled to Medicaid services. She
elaborated that the state was directly responsible for
costs the requested funding addressed. She reasoned that
choosing to serve Alaskans with disabilities increased the
demand for safe, supportive, and cost-effective housing.
She added that the state licensing process required the
upgrades to facilities. The organization raised
approximately $2 million per year to help pay for the
costs.
6:46:30 PM
KJERSTI VON WICHMAN, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), urged support for funding to assist with
lease obligations for the school. She detailed that the
school had entered a 20-year lease with a local contractor
based on funding granted by the legislature the previous
session. Rilke Schule was a charter school and funds were
used towards the cost of the facilities. She implored the
committee to not pull the rug from underneath the school.
She asked for a restoration of funds in the capital budget.
6:47:24 PM
CORRIE DAVIS, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, KODIAK (via
teleconference), urged the committee to support a minimum
of $361,000 for Hope Community Resources. The funds would
pay for upgrades to state-licensed residences for disabled
Alaskans that the state had ordered Hope to make in
addition to other life and safety improvements. She relayed
that the capital funding would reduce the state's operating
budget. She stressed that the organization needed state
funds to comply with state and federal licensing
requirements. She elaborated that without capital budget
funding Hope would serve fewer Alaskans with disabilities;
some of the individuals would then require much more costly
institutional care. She underscored that the cost increase
would be immediate if the residences closed.
6:48:38 PM
BART MEYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BARANOF ISLAND HOUSING
AUTHORITY, SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
the Supplemental Housing Grant Program and Weatherization
Program administered by AHFC. He was concerned that at the
proposed funding level it was likely that the program would
be restructured and any services coming to Sitka would be
on a rotational basis from year to year (it had been the
system in the past). He emphasized that the merits of the
Weatherization program was real; it served primarily lower
income individuals. He supported the $20 million funding
level. He communicated that the Supplemental Housing Grant
Program was used in Sitka primarily for new development.
The housing authority used the program as a match to its
federal funding sources; it was used on every development
project. He emphasized that the program was critical and
requested funding at the $5 million level.
6:51:41 PM
REGGIE JOULE, MAYOR, NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH, KOTZEBUE
(via teleconference), relayed that a few years back former
Governor Sean Parnell had included a $2.5 million
appropriation in the capital budget for the planning of an
evacuation route out of Kivalina for the purpose of
providing safety to the community; the amount was part of a
larger request for $5.7 million. He expounded that Governor
Walker had included $2.5 million in the original capital
budget to round out the request to complete the planning
process of the road. He stressed that the people of the
Northwest Arctic region were working hard to locate other
funding sources. He relayed that the community of Kivalina
was working to finalize its application for IRT assistance.
He urged the reinstatement of $2.7 million for the
evacuation road planning.
6:54:47 PM
ELIZABETH CRAVALHO, NANA REGIONAL CORPORATION, KOTZEBUE
(via teleconference), thanked the committee for its efforts
to fund the Kivalina school and urged support for the
evacuation road to the new school site. She detailed that
the new school would alleviate significant overcrowding.
Additionally, the new school would provide a safe haven
from dangerous winter storms that continued to threaten the
community annually. She relayed that regional partners had
worked with the community and other agencies to evacuate
the community three times in the past five years;
evacuation was only possible by boat or airplane. The new
school would provide a more accessible site. She encouraged
the committee to include the governor's proposed $2.5
million for the evacuation road and the school.
6:56:46 PM
JOEL ALOWA, MANIILAQ ASSOCIATION, KOTZEBUE (via
teleconference), urged support of funding for construction
of the new Kivalina school. He stated that without the
funding to replace the current 40-year old dilapidated
building the legislature would be condemning the children
in Kivalina from receiving a quality education in a safe
and healthy environment. He reminded the legislature that
public school funding was a constitutional requirement.
6:57:45 PM
SAMANTHA MITZ-GENTZ, DIRECT SERVICE ADVOCATE, STANDING
TOGETHER AGAINST RAPE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke against the elimination of funding for the Alaska
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program.
She stated that the funds were necessary for the ongoing
support on domestic violence and sexual assault survivors
in Alaska. As an advocate at STAR she had seen the tragic
repercussions that interpersonal violence has on a person's
life. She relayed that the financial support provided by
the state worked to alleviate the burden. She stressed that
the program was necessary to ensure the safety and progress
for survivors in the state. She provided examples of
domestic violence and sexual assault that impacted
individuals. She disputed the claim that there were other
funding sources that would make up for the loss of state
funds. She provided information about her personal
experience searching for funds in the past. She shared that
the Violent Crimes Compensation Board was not applicable to
the majority of STAR clients; the program required,
according to law enforcement, likelihood or actual
prosecution and guilty verdict. She urged the committee to
reinstate the funding.
7:00:42 PM
ETTA KUZAKIN, PRESIDENT, TRIBAL COUNCIL OF KING COVE, KING
COVE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
Weatherization Program administered by the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation. She stated that the program was
amazing. She detailed that 61 homes had been weatherized in
King Cove since the program's inception. Many of the homes
had received new energy efficient heating systems, doors,
windows, improved ventilation, and air sealing. She
highlighted improved health and safety resulting from the
upgrades. Additionally, she spoke to the importance of the
Supplemental Housing Development Grant Program, which
provided a 20 percent match to federal HUD funds. She
communicated that the program had strong support from AHFC,
the Walker Administration, and many legislators. She urged
the legislature to support the modest level of funding for
the programs.
7:02:58 PM
RICK BERNS, MAYOR, OLD HARBOR (via teleconference),
testified in support of funds for the Old Harbor Airport
safety and expansion project. He elaborated that the
project would extend the current airfield from 2,700 feet
to 4,700 feet and would provide side slopes for safety
purposes. The community used a private-public partnership
to advance the project; it had secured federal and private
contributions totaling above $9 million. The largest
portion of the federal match had been the construction
support from the Innovative Readiness Training program; the
program provided training opportunities for service members
and units to prepare them for wartime missions while
supporting the needs of underserved communities. All but
40,000 cubic yards of material had been moved to the site.
He relayed that the project had not received state funding
the prior year; $4 million would complete the drilling and
blasting for the project and a minimum appropriation of
$2.5 million in FY 16 would provide sufficient funding for
construction oversight, monitoring, and drilling and
blasting.
7:05:53 PM
DAN WINTERS, DIRECTOR, PUBLIC UTILITIES, CITY OF UNALASKA
(via teleconference), testified in support of a
reappropriation of $1.5 million Unalaska geothermal project
to the Unalaska fuel conservation project. The fuel
conservation project consisted of pyramid water plant
inline microturbines and the installation of the fourth
ElectraTherm waste heat recovery unit. The total cost of
the projects was $1.7 million. The community had no problem
funding the remainder of the project. The project would
save the community 57,000 gallons of fuel per year.
7:07:15 PM
KIMBERLY CARLO, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, INTERIOR REGIONAL
HOUSING AUTHORITY, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Weatherization Program. She shared that Interior Regional
Housing Authority served 31 tribes. She relayed that gas
was $10 per gallon in the community. She detailed that
clients received energy efficient heating systems; clients
need for fuel deliveries decreased and wood for heating
lasted longer. She discussed that the organization was able
to train residents in communities under the Weatherization
Program. She communicated that there were still homes in
the Interior and statewide that were in need of
weatherization upgrades. For example, weatherization
upgrades had been made in Arctic Village where gas cost $10
per gallon. She requested the reinstatement of funding at
the $20 million level. Additionally, she spoke in support
of the AHFC Supplemental Housing Development Grant Program.
7:09:26 PM
PAUL GILL, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in
support for funding of the engineering building at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He stated that $31
million was the cost of the entire building; $10 million
was needed to fund the coming year. He believed that if
construction was frozen it would cost more to restart
construction in the future. He noted that the current
building was lacking space. He relayed that the Alaska
Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration
organization was located across town from UAF due to a lack
of space. He continued that new technology kept coming in,
but the university continued to use the old technology as
well. He encouraged funding for the new engineering
building at UAF.
7:11:23 PM
JACK HEBERT, CEO, COLD CLIMATE HOUSING RESEARCH CENTER,
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding
for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. The center
developed programs, techniques, and technologies working
with housing authorities and AHFC to reduce energy costs by
as much as 80 percent and to reduce the cost of buildings
by as much as 50 percent. The center was facing a very
difficult situation financially; it was looking at a 66
percent decrease in funds from the state. He mentioned
federal and private fund sources. The center had been
recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a
leader in the effort in cold climate housing. The reduction
from $1.5 million to $500,000 would be devastating to the
organization.
7:13:36 PM
SCOTT BELL, VICE CHANCELLOR, FACILITIES SERVICES,
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), testified in support of funds for the UAF
engineering building. The project had been allocated
approximately $70 million thus far, which would be spent by
August 2015. He relayed that the building would look
beautiful from the outside, but would have no usable space
on the inside. He supported a request for $10 million that
would enable classrooms to be finished and other. The
number of enrollees in the engineering program had doubled
in the past 10 years; the program was really serving a need
in the state. He spoke to building infrastructure in Alaska
that served the entire state. He reiterated his request for
$10 million. He spoke in support of funding for the Cold
Climate Housing Research Center.
7:15:38 PM
BRUNO GRUNAU, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in restored funding to $1 million for the Cold
Climate Housing Research Center. He recalled that about 10
years earlier the housing authority on the North Slope
built a duplex in Anaktuvuk Pass that had cost $750,000. He
opined that rural Alaska was sunk if the cost of housing
was that high. He shared that in 2009 the research center
had met a goal to build a 1,000 square foot home for about
$200,000; the home used about one-sixth the energy of an
average home in the area. He stressed that Alaska needed
the organization. He relayed that since 2009 the
organization had played a powerful role in providing
critical energy saving guidance to homeowners, builders,
housing authorities, AHFC, and legislators. Additionally,
the center had worked with emergency services to provide
relief to disaster communities. He shared that due to the
work by the organization home owners could make informed
choices about cost-effective upgrades. He asked the
committee to restore funding to the governor's proposed
level.
7:18:19 PM
WILLIAM DUSHKIN SR., ALEUTIAN HOUSING AUTHORITY, SAND POINT
(via teleconference), testified in support of the Alaska
Housing Finance Corporation Weatherization Program. He
spoke to the benefits the program had provided to the
community. He shared that 51 homes had been taken care of
in the community; he was currently on the list for future
improvements. He emphasized that the work represented money
well spent and cut down on fuel costs by 40 percent. He
relayed that the reduction in heating costs had benefit
people statewide. He stated that the AHFC program had a 20
percent federal match.
7:21:17 PM
DR. ANN MARIE O'BRIEN, SUPERINTENDENT, NORTHWEST ARCTIC
BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, KOTZEBUE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the school access and village
evacuation road from the community of Kivalina. She noted
that Kivalina was the last on the list of schools in the
Kasayulie settlement. She thanked the legislature for its
efforts towards the construction of the new school. She
relayed that the Kivalina school site was approximately 8
miles from the community, which was far away from erosion
problems. She provided information about the elected site.
She asked the committee to consider that the school was
operating at 220 percent capacity; there were 132 children
attending school in Kivalina. She thanked the committee for
its consideration.
7:23:32 PM
DOUG BRIDGES, ALASKA MOBILITY COALITION, JUNEAU (via
teleconference), testified in support of statewide public
and community transportation funding. He relayed that the
Senate Finance Committee had decreased the increment from
$1 million down to $750,000. The increment was extremely
important and covered communities throughout the state. He
detailed that the Alaska Mobility Coalition had over 150
members; he reasoned that the money was not a handout, but
a hand up. He shared that the money had a federal match of
20 percent to 50 percent and higher. He communicated that
the Juneau transit system received over $130,000 from the
increment; it also was used as a dialysis transportation
system. He discussed that transit represented support for
economies. He spoke to the role of transit in supporting
hospitals and medical services. The money was administered
through the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities. He encouraged the committee to support the
funding.
7:26:08 PM
CHRISTOPHER CONSTANT, FAIRVIEW COMMUNITY COUNCIL, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified against a reappropriation
of funds from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
parking lot near the Gamble Street Gateway Element in
Anchorage. He explained that the project was very important
to the community and to the roadway through Anchorage. He
spoke to time consuming challenges; one of the issues was
that the gateway element incurred into the right-of-way
onto the federal highway; therefore, the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities had been concerned
that safety factors would block the project. He explained
that the council had worked with DOT and had received
permission from the Federal Highway Authority for the
project to move forward. He stressed that the project had
begun moving into construction when he had been notified
that the funds were targeted for reappropriation by the
municipality. He elaborated that the municipality had
communicated to the Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development that it would like to see the funds
continue on the project. He relayed that the project could
be constructed within the upcoming four to six months. He
asked for a one-year extension; there was $77,000 remaining
in the project.
Representative Munoz asked Mr. Constant to provide the
project name.
Mr. Constant responded that the project was called the
Gamble Street Gateway Element. He stressed that the project
was very important to the road system; it would put a cap
on major upgrades that had happened in the past five years.
He reiterated that the project was close to completion.
7:28:56 PM
NANCY ANDERSON, MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for the Alaska Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program. She asked
the committee to consider an increment for $850,000 to
continue to fund the program that partnered with agencies
including STAR, AWAIC, Victims for Justice, the Alaska
Police Department, and the municipal prosecutor's office.
She discussed that the program gave a message to offenders
that the state took sexual assault and domestic violence
seriously. She relayed that one out of two women in Alaska
reported being sexually assaulted or a victim of an
intimate domestic violence interaction. She provided
further statistics. The funds supported providing
assistance to women and children and getting them into a
safe and secure place. The program provided an opportunity
for rental assistance. She shared that the program served
38 communities in the state. The program was unique and had
existed since 2002; administrators had been looking at
expanding and had applied for additional federal funds. She
emphasized that partners matched state funds by 54 percent.
She urged the committee to continue funding the program.
7:31:42 PM
MARILYN HOUSER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
against cuts to education funding. She was sickened by the
decisions of the current legislature to make deep cuts to
education, but to find an additional $20 million for an
unpopular and unneeded road for access to Anchorage's
northern district. She emphasized that nine or ten
Anchorage community councils opposed construction of the
road. She was not surprised that many people had lost faith
in the democratic process when so many voices were ignored.
She urged the committee to reappropriate the $20 million in
general fund money from the road project to education
funding for Anchorage. She stressed that children were the
state's future and most important resource.
7:32:56 PM
RAY OAKLEY, PARENT, INDIAN (via teleconference), referred
to testimony by a 12 year-old boy who provided testimony in
support of the Rilke Schule charter school in German and
English. He testified in support of funds for education. He
shared that Rilke Schule was growing; it currently had 450
students and was on track for 500 students. He stressed
that the bane of charter schools was facilities; charter
schools had the same student funding as other public
schools, but they additionally paid for rent. He elaborated
that the school had outgrown its current building and had
undertaken the construction of a modest new building. He
explained that the depended on the funds promised by the
legislature the prior year; construction was currently
underway.
7:35:08 PM
KJERSTIN LASTUFKA, PARENT, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of education funding. She asked the
committee to keep funds from HB 278 intact. She stressed
that for the Rilke Schule charter school the cuts would
mean that 480 students plus teachers and staff could be
without a school. She detailed that the school had outgrown
its current leased facility two years earlier. She shared
that in the current year 57 fourth graders and three
teachers were housed in a separate facility due to a lack
of space. She explained that in December the school had
entered into a legal agreement to construct a facility
large enough to house the entire student body. She
emphasized that the project had begun; the land had been
cleared and work had started. She stressed that the
prefabricated building was due to arrive in May in order to
open in the fall. She stated that the school needed a
minimum of $250,000 to keep the project alive. She implored
the committee to leave education funding intact.
7:37:00 PM
DEAN BALL, PRINCIPAL, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of education funding. He
spoke to the accolades received by the school from a
multitude of sources. He was concerned that the program may
be in jeopardy. He communicated that the school had entered
into a lease to build a facility that would accommodate all
of its students. He relayed that the school's current lease
was up and the Anchorage School District did not have
facilities available for the school. He highlighted that
construction was currently underway; $250,000 was needed to
continue.
7:38:25 PM
CARRIE LONGORIA, VICTIMS FOR JUSTICE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for
Victims for Justice. She detailed that the nonprofit
organization had supported surviving family members of
homicide for over 30 years. The organization also served
and advocated for victims of other crimes such as assault,
robbery, arson, kidnapping, bullying, and drunk driving.
She asked for reinstatement of $850,000 under the
Department of Public Safety for the Alaska Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program. The
program had proved effective in coordinative partnerships
that emphasize public safety. She elaborated that the
program provided emergency funds to assist families and
individuals throughout the state; the money was used for
urgent necessities such as housing, security,
transportation, and relocation. The program partners
included Victims for Justice, the Anchorage Department of
Health and Human Services, the Department of Law, the
Anchorage Police Department, Standing Together Against
Rape, and Abused Women's Aid in Crisis. She stressed that
Victims for Justice had assisted 167 victims of crime from
September 1, 2014 through March 30, 2015. A reinstatement
of the funds would enable the important services to
continue.
7:40:22 PM
CHRISTOPHER DYKE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of Rilke Schule charter school. He
associated himself with testimony provided by his Rilke
colleagues throughout the meeting. He spoke to the
transformational potential of charter school programs he
had seen in the past year. He had experienced parents
dedicating countless hours towards making the school
community better. He spoke to the new facility under
construction and relayed that the efforts had not been
without oversight by key members such as the Anchorage
School Board and other. He stated that the school's budget
depended on funds provided under HB 278 from the previous
session; the loss of the funds made the school vulnerable.
He requested a reinstatement of two annual increments of
$250,000 for the current and subsequent year. He stressed
that $250,000 was critical to open the school in the fall.
7:42:33 PM
PETER BRANDORFF, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funds for the charter
school's building project that was currently under
construction. He remarked that he was fiscally conservative
and owned a small business. He was aware of the budget
issue in Alaska, but disagreed with the proposed remedy to
cut school funding. He was concerned that Rilke Schule
would fail based on a lack of funding from the state. He
believed including education in the cuts was an oversight
and deserved further consideration. He could not believe
that balancing the state's budget at the expense of
students was the right thing to do. He hoped that through
education in the future the current students could prevent
situations like the one at hand.
7:43:58 PM
EMILY DAVIES, DATA ANALYST, ALASKA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT INTERVENTION PROGRAM, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the Alaska
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program.
She commented that everyone was aware that Alaska's rates
of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse were
epidemic. She stressed that the program was the only one in
Alaska that provided offender accountability and increased
victims' safety. She spoke to the program's success;
recidivism had declined over 50 percent since 2006 and
arrests for violations of bail conditions had increased
over 481 percent. Additionally, compliance with bail
conditions had increased over 100 percent. She detailed
that currently the program only addressed misdemeanor
domestic violence offences throughout the state (primarily
in Anchorage); however, the reduced recidivism and
incarceration had saved the state over $2 million per year.
She relayed that the program had applied for federal
funding to increase its scope and impact by including
felony cases, which would further increase cost savings to
the state. She supported parents from the Rilke Schule as
well; she believed children were the state's most important
resource. She spoke in support of education and a reduction
in violence.
7:46:25 PM
VANESSA WISE, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for the charter school. She
agreed that the state needed to balance its budget, but
also believed it was important to honor commitments made in
HB 278. She stressed that losing funding for the school
building would be devastating. She opined that investing in
the state's children should be a priority. She urged the
committee to maintain funding.
7:47:35 PM
JACK WALKER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
requested funding to complete the UAF engineering,
learning, and innovation facility. He shared that details
on the project were located in the academic facilities
section of the University of Alaska capital budget request
under the title engineering building completion. He relayed
that the facility was two-thirds complete. He urged the
committee to approve funding to complete the project.
7:48:39 PM
BRYAN CLEMENZ, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funds for the UAF engineering
facility. He stressed that Alaska needed engineers;
students who graduate in Alaska tend to stay in Alaska. He
detailed that in order to attract talented engineers, the
state needed the appropriate programs, infrastructure, and
facilities. He communicated that the facility was close to
completion. He requested funds for the completion of the
project.
7:49:41 PM
JAMES KURTH, PARENT, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for Rilke Schule. He
explained that the emersion school was half in German and
half in English. He reported that the school's test scores
were great and that the school did less with more. He
relayed that the school had become so popular it had a
lottery process for enrollment. He stressed the creative
nature of the school. He requested funds totaling $250,000
for building construction. He reasoned that there would be
a big problem in Anchorage if the 450 students lost their
school and had to be incorporated into the Anchorage School
District. He underscored that the lack of funding could
cripple the school and impacted its current construction
project. The funding was needed for the school to continue
to thrive. He implored the committee to provide the funding
for Rilke Schule.
7:52:00 PM
JONI SCHARFENBERG, FAIRBANKS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICT, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in support
of funds to work towards the eradication of the aquatic
invasive species elodea in Interior Alaska. She highlighted
the state mandate to eradicate the invasive species. The
Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District had received
$400,000 towards eradication. Currently, the Department of
Natural Resources was working to eradicate elodea in
Anchorage lakes. She explained that Interior Alaska had
first discovered the invasive plant in 2010 and had been
compiling piecemeal funding towards control (with little
success at eradication). The elodea infestation in the
Chena Slough, Chena Lakes, and Chena River posed a grave
threat to the state fisheries economy and recreational
activities. The invasive traveled by float plane, boat, and
trailers to other bodies of water. She stressed that the
more time that went by, the harder it would be to control.
She stated that there was federal and private funding
available if there was state match. She asked the committee
to consider the consequences of no funding for elodea
eradication. Additionally, she asked for funding for Alaska
Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
7:54:00 PM
JAMES WILEMAN, PARENT, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the restoration of education
funding for the charter school Rilke Schule. He stressed
that education, social services, and infrastructure were
all extremely important. He urged the committee to restore
the $250,000 that had been removed from the budget. He drew
the committee's attention to the number of people in
support of the school and the wide footprint the school
had. He thanked the committee for its service. He
underscored that the school and community had worked very
hard to be good stewards. He stressed that the school,
parents, and others were counting on the legislature to
provide the funding. He urged the committee's support.
7:55:44 PM
MOLLY RETTIG, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. She
detailed that the funding had been reduced from $1 million
in the governor's proposed budget to $500,000. She shared
that the house she lived in used a wall system designed by
the center. She relayed that it would not be possible to
use the innovative designs without the center. She believed
energy efficiency was one of the best investments the state
could make. She reasoned that spending $1 million per year
on research was a good deal when the research helped to
save tens of millions of dollars annually. She stated that
she and other Alaskans were saving thousands of dollars per
year on energy bills. She detailed that prototype houses
across the state were reducing energy costs by up to 80
percent. She discussed further attributes of the center.
She emphasized that cutting funding so dramatically would
hurt Alaska homeowners.
7:57:23 PM
DANIEL BLAIR, MAYOR, WHITTIER (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for the design and
engineering stage of six launch ramps and a 150-foot boat
harbor located at the head of Passage Canal. The project
was funded 90 percent by federal dollars; a $300,000 state
contribution would be matched by $3 million in federal
funds. He detailed that the construction of the breakwater
and turning basin was also funded at the 90 percent federal
level. He discussed that construction of the launch ramps
would improve recreational access to Prince William Sound
for the Southcentral boaters, would reduce congestion at
the ferry terminal, increase tunnel traffic, and provide
much needed capital improvement to Whittier's limited
infrastructure base.
7:58:32 PM
ALYSE GALVIN, GREAT ALASKA SCHOOLS, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of funding for education. She shared that there
were schools statewide that were doing wonderful,
innovative things. She believed it would behoove the
committee to provide funding to education. She pointed to
hands on learning and all kinds of ways to bring good
choices to parents. She understood that Alaska was in
difficult fiscal times. She urged the committee to put
education first because without it when the state was
really struggling it would not have the mind set and the
brain power to innovatively solve the problem. She
emphasized that there were great things happening in public
education that were very important.
8:00:44 PM
DEENA MITCHELL, GREAT ALASKA SCHOOLS, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of education funding. She stressed that there were
many great schools statewide that were doing wonderful
work. She emphasized that it made no economic sense to take
money from education. She encouraged the committee to take
$32 million to put it back in the education system. She
stressed that every dollar spent was an investment.
Additionally, she spoke in support of early learning
programs. She underscored that children only went through
school once; there was no do over. She thanked the
committee for its time.
8:02:28 PM
CAROLYN RAMSEY, CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified against the
northern access to Bragaw Street did not represent
responsible development. The organization asked for the
funding to be repealed and returned to the general fund to
assist the state in its current financial crisis. The
previous year former Governor Parnell had proposed an
unallocated cut to the university system of $14.9 million.
She detailed that the cut was from the university's bottom
line and was made to give $14.9 million of right-of-way
land to the northern access road. She stated that as of
February the road had decreased to a two-lane road with $20
million from the legislature and the $14.9 million from the
university. She continued to speak against the costly
project. She spoke to increased traffic that would result
in the area due to the project. She stressed that the state
had much better uses for $35 million than to build a road
that was less than one mile long.
8:05:20 PM
BRYAN ANDERSON, RILKE SCHULE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for Rilke
Schule. He stated that the quality school options in
Anchorage were a major benefit to living in Alaska. He
relayed that charter schools like Rilke continued to be
responsible stewards of funds they received. He
communicated that Rilke needed financial stability to
enable long-term financial planning of its capital
projects. The charter school needed $250,000 for the
construction of its new facility.
8:05:59 PM
CHANTAL WALSH, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding for the university engineering
building in Fairbanks. She spoke in support of the
University engineering programs in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
She stated that in the last decade the programs had more
than doubled the number of graduating engineering students.
The state had allocated capital funds to build on the
Anchorage and Fairbanks campuses. She requested funds to
complete the engineering building on the UAF campus. She
stressed that the $10 million request was critical to
nourish the continued growth and innovation the engineering
program offered to Alaska's future.
8:07:30 PM
CHRIS TURETES, FACILITIES DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), asked for the
restoration of a minimum of $8 million in the governor's
proposed budget for deferred maintenance and renewal for
the university. He detailed that the funding helped the
university to maintain and renew existing facilities. He
asked the committee fund the increment of $8 million to $10
million for the UAF engineering building; the building was
currently under construction. He spoke to deferred
maintenance funding that allowed the university to plan and
accomplish work in a deliberate manner. He spoke to various
improvements. Without the funding the university was unable
to conduct the deep infrastructure renewal and repair work
(e.g. roof replacements, boilers, and other). He stated
that an absence of the funds would bring the university
back 10 to 12 years when many building systems had not
functioned properly. He relayed that there was still a
large backlog of maintenance needs. He asked for continued
support.
Co-Chair Thompson CLOSED public testimony.
HB 26 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Thompson discussed the schedule for the following
day.
ADJOURNMENT
8:11:05 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 26 Emailed Testimony.pdf |
HFIN 4/14/2015 6:00:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Additional Testimony.pdf |
HFIN 4/14/2015 6:00:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Additional Testimony.pdf.2.pdf |
HFIN 4/14/2015 6:00:00 PM |
SB 26 |