Legislature(1993 - 1994)
1993-07-22 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1993-07-22 Senate Journal Page 2402 SB 60 Governor's transmittal letter dated July 16: Dear Mr. President: On this date I have signed the following bill with line item vetoes and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing: HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 60(FIN) am H "An Act making appropriations for school construction projects and making an appropriation of $1,066,280 from the general fund to the Department of Education for payment as grants for additional district support for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994; and providing for an effective date." Chapter No. 83, SLA 1993 Effective Date: 7/17/93 There is no greater commitment a state and its people can share than their dedication to its future. This legislation is a landmark in showing the priority we all share in ensuring our young Alaskans have safe and adequate schools in their future. This legislation is the first appropriation from the educational facilities maintenance and construction fund established by the Eighteenth State Legislature. It took courage for the Legislature to recognize the previous education funding program was not effective in meeting the housing and maintenance needs of our K-12 schools. The Legislature not only met this challenge by establishing a new program and appropriating necessary construction funding, but it has 1993-07-22 Senate Journal Page 2403 SB 60 also put in place a program that will help stimulate our economy for several years by providing needed jobs for Alaskans. I congratulate the Legislature and am proud to sign most of this bill's appropriations into law. As passed by the Legislature, the bill appropriated $173,235,574 for K-12 schools. It also includes $20,239,600 for the University of Alaska that will begin finally to meet its dramatic maintenance backlog. I am, however, vetoing two items from the bill, reducing K-12 total appropriation to $169,866,000: Pedro Bay School Replacement $2,303,294 While I appreciate local legislative interest in replacing this school, I have vetoed the project's funding. This was not an easy decision. My first concern was to ensure that the school's children were safe from serious site contamination. The Department of Environmental Conservation's evaluation finds the school's contamination is a lower priority when compared to other priorities around the state. Given it appears the children's health is not in jeopardy, I looked to the priority local officials placed on replacing the school. Local borough officials indicated the new school is not one of their priorities nor was it included in the local school district's six-year plan submitted to the Department of Education. While these facts alone represent a solid case for my veto, my overriding concern is that when it comes to meeting the education needs of our children, Alaska must get the process away from power politics. Clear priorities based on need--and not power--must be the basis for these important funding decisions. For all of these reasons, I have vetoed this appropriation. The funding will remain in the fund and continue to be available for schools in which a higher need exists. Additional District Support $1,066,280 Section 4 of the legislation appropriated additional funding for nine single-site school districts. Its enactment was contingent upon the Eighteenth Legislature's failure to pass another appropriation for this same purpose. Because the FY 94 operating budget (Chapter 65, SLA 93) includes this same appropriation per the Legislature's intent, I have vetoed this section. 1993-07-22 Senate Journal Page 2404 SB 60 My commitment to the future of our children does not end with the signing of this legislation. I look forward to working with the Legislature and school districts throughout our great state in making further investment in our future. Sincerely, /s/ Walter J. Hickel Governor