Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/06/2016 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB138 | |
| Public Testimony | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 114 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 128 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 138 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 6, 2016
1:05 p.m.
1:05:34 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Dave Donley, Hope Community Resources, Juneau; Eric Gurley,
Senior Manager, Services and Support, Hope Community
Resources, Juneau; Callie Conerton, Student Body President,
University of Alaska, Southeast; Paul Fuhs, Marine
Exchange, Juneau; Ed Page, Executive Director, Marine
Exchange, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Lois Epstein, Director, The Wilderness Society, Anchorage;
Rick Koch, City Manager, City of Kenai, Kenai; Greg
Meissner, Wrangell Port and Harbor Department, Wrangell;
Anne Biberman, Self, Fairbanks; Katie Baxter, Chair,
Library Advocacy Committee, Alaska Library Association,
Kodiak; Jill Yordy, Self, Fairbanks; Steve Ribuffo,
Director, Port of Anchorage, Anchorage; Paul Kendall,
Self, Anchorage.
SUMMARY
SB 138 BUDGET: CAPITAL
SB 138 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 138
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, reappropriations, and other
appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize
funds; and providing for an effective date."
1:06:39 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY
1:06:57 PM
LOIS EPSTEIN, DIRECTOR, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), shared that she was the author of
many state transportation and mega projects. She testified
against four projects: Knik Arm Bridge; Juneau Access
Project; Ambler Road; and the Susitna Dam. She felt that
there was substantial money in the capital budget allocated
for those projects that could be used for other state
infrastructure projects. She felt that the money could be
considered "new revenue", and stressed that Alaskans could
be put to work immediately.
Co-Chair MacKinnon encouraged Ms. Epstein to complete her
testimony. Ms. Epstein felt that one or more of the
projects should be cancelled to allow for state money to be
used as match for federal transportation dollars.
1:11:07 PM
RICK KOCH, CITY MANAGER, CITY OF KENAI, KENAI (via
teleconference), testified in support for SB 138. He shared
that he had been a city manager and engineer working in
large scale projects in the state. He did not feel that the
budget would support a sustainable construction industry.
He shared an anecdote from Kenai related to contracting. He
urged the committee to create a long range healthy capital
budget proposal. He thanked the committee for their
efforts.
1:13:40 PM
GREG MEISSNER, WRANGELL PORT AND HARBOR DEPARTMENT,
WRANGELL (via teleconference), testified in support of the
Matching Grant Harbor Programs. He shared that he had
attended a budget presentation, and he had conversed about
the importance of harbors to a holistic state
infrastructure. He stressed that ports and harbors enhanced
community economies. He stated that the current funding
would not fund the port in Wrangell, and urged the
committee to provide more funding for the port projects. He
shared that Wrangell had developed the projects, with the
expectations of state funds.
1:16:25 PM
DAVE DONLEY, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of the inclusion of $115,000 to the capital budget.
He stated that the request was included in the governor's
amended request. He stated the housed individuals were
entitled to the Medicaid services by law. He explained
that, without the homes, the state would need to build new
state facilities to house the individuals. He stressed that
the request was intended to maintain the organization's
basic functions.
1:18:54 PM
ERIC GURLEY, SENIOR MANAGER, SERVICES AND SUPPORT, HOPE
COMMUNITY RESOURCES, JUNEAU, shared his experience working
for Hope Community Resources. He stated that the additional
funding of $115,000 would keep the organization
functioning. He thanked the committee for their previous
support in years past.
1:20:46 PM
CALLIE CONERTON, STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF
ALASKA, SOUTHEAST, testified in support of funding for the
University of Alaska (UA). She specifically spoke in
support of the engineering building at the University of
Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She stressed that the project cost
an additional $3 million every year of delay of the
project.
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether the university had
bonding authority to complete the engineering building.
Ms. Conerton agreed to provide that information.
Co-Chair MacKinnon understood the importance of completing
the engineering building.
1:23:34 PM
PAUL FUHS, MARINE EXCHANGE, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
$600,000 to maintain the antenna sites using cruise ship
head tax funds.
1:24:04 PM
ED PAGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARINE EXCHANGE, JUNEAU,
stated that there back up documents to highlight his
testimony.
1:25:33 PM
AT EASE
1:25:55 PM
RECONVENED
Mr. Page stated that the cruise ship representatives were
in support of the use of the funds.
Mr. Fuhs looked at a slide in a presentation.
Co-Chair MacKinnon explained that public testimony was not
typically a presentation.
Mr. Fuhs shared that the system was used for a variety of
reasons.
1:29:00 PM
AT EASE
1:29:45 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that she would take a recess
until 1:45pm.
1:30:39 PM
AT EASE
2:08:16 PM
RECONVENED
2:08:19 PM
ANNE BIBERMAN, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of the completion of the new
engineering building at UAF. She stressed that the building
only became more expensive with each year that the building
remained unfinished. She also pointed out that the building
cost $500,000 per year to maintain. She also spoke in
support of implementing a state income tax. The project was
originally intended to educated and create new engineers to
contribute to Alaska's economy. She stressed that
completion of the building would be a positive move for
Alaska's fiscal future. She stated that UAF graduates
continually get jobs in the state to enhance the state's
engineering-related industries.
2:11:35 PM
AT EASE
2:32:46 PM
RECONVENED
2:33:15 PM
KATIE BAXTER, CHAIR, LIBRARY ADVOCACY COMMITTEE, ALASKA
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, KODIAK (via teleconference), requested
full funding for the Online with Libraries (OWL) program.
She stated that the OWL program provided dependable
internet to Alaskans. She stated that the funding was not
included in the operating budget, so she was requesting
that the funds be included in the capital budget. She
stated that $325,000 would be enough to keep the library
internet through OWL intact. She stated that OWL was a
primary critical program.
2:36:06 PM
JILL YORDY, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified
against funding for the Ambler Road.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the road Ms. Yordy was
referencing. Ms. Yordy replied that it was the Ambler Road.
2:38:27 PM
STEVE RIBUFFO, DIRECTOR, PORT OF ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding the $290
million for the completion of the Anchorage Port
Modernization Project. He stressed that the Port of
Anchorage was essential and beneficial to the surrounding
communities. He stressed that the current facility had no
prevention against a significant earthquake. He stated that
the project was currently in phase 1, and explained that
there needed further funding to complete the entire
project.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that the meeting would recess
until 2:55pm
2:41:17 PM
AT EASE
2:55:09 PM
RECONVENED
2:55:35 PM
PAUL KENDALL, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of a $2 billion budget model.
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
3:00:25 PM
Senator Dunleavy remarked that the OWL program testimony
was proper testimony. He echoed the remarks of Mr. Kendall
about the time that it takes to fix the state's budget
problems. He stressed that the state needed to fully
examine the state's budget.
Co-Chair MacKinnon shared that there were 24,000 current
state employees, and the committee had reviewed the
contracts. She stated that that the state was allowed to
proceed without a constitutional amendment. She stressed
that the committee had engaged in conversations related to
the concerns from Mr. Kendall, and those numbers were
available to committee members.
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed the following meeting's
agenda.
SB 138 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
3:03:15 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 3:03 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 138 Public Testimony Packet 1.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2016 1:00:00 PM |
SB 138 |
| SB 138 Public Testimony Packet 2.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2016 1:00:00 PM |
SB 138 |
| SB 138 LAW Kasayulie Letter.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2016 1:00:00 PM |
SB 138 |