1993-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0128
SB 60                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 60 by the Senate Rules Committee by request                    
of the Governor, entitled:                                                     
                                                                               
"An Act making appropriations for construction and                            
major maintenance of schools; and providing for an                             
effective date."                                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and              
Social Services Committee and the Finance Committee.                           
                                                                               
Fiscal note from Department of Revenue and zero fiscal note from               
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities published today.            
                                                                               
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 22:                                
                                                                               

1993-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0129
SB 60                                                                        
Dear Mr. President:                                                            
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution,          
I am transmitting a bill making $150,000,000 in capital                        
appropriations for construction and major maintenance of Alaska's              
public schools.                                                                
                                                                               
Section 1 of the bill appropriates $107,688,000 to the school                  
construction grant fund to finance life, health, and safety construction       
projects in our public schools which are necessary to avert imminent           
dangers.  These appropriations will fulfill the existing backlog of this       
category of needs, plus fund several other essential capital projects          
to help meet projected student enrollment increases in the near                
future.                                                                        
                                                                               
Section 2 of the bill appropriates $42,312,000 to a major                      
maintenance grant fund to finance costs of certain repairs to many             
of our public schools.  These appropriations are cost-effective                
because making repairs now can often avoid major rebuilding or                 
construction costs later.  Also, some of the projects may make the             
schools more energy efficient, which will likely have long-term                
energy savings for the state.                                                  
                                                                               
The appropriation amounts in both secs. 1 and 2 of the bill assume             
that the local community will financially participate in each project          
in order to fully fund it.  Requiring a local community participating          
share should allow limited state dollars to go farther in financing            
capital needs in our public schools.  Such a requirement also may              
increase local community interest in the size, design, and cost of the         
overall project and in prioritizing the project against other                  
community needs for state funding.                                             
                                                                               
The need for additional capital money has been supported by the                
state Board of Education.  I urge support, as well, for these                  
important projects.                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               

1993-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0130
  SB 60                                                                      
Finally, while some may question the use of the earnings reserve               
account in the permanent fund for these projects, I can see no higher          
use for  this money than to improve our public schools  in order to            
provide quality educational facilities for our children.  Alaska's             
children deserve the finest to help them learn to their greatest               
capacities.                                                                    
                                                                               
      Sincerely,                                                               
      /s/                                                                      
      Walter J. Hickel                                                         
      Governor