2003-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 0049
SB 35                                                                                             
SENATE BILL NO. 35 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                    
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
          "An Act making appropriations for the operating and                                       
          loan program expenses of state government, for                                            
          certain programs, and 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."                                       
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                      
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 23:                                                     
                                                                                                    
Dear President Therriault:                                                                          
                                                                                                    
AS 37.07.020 required that I submit a budget for the 2004 fiscal year                               
                                                         th                                         
to the Legislature and the public on December 15 of last year. That                                 
law also requires that "bills identical in content" to those I released in                          
December be delivered to the Legislature by the fourth legislative day.                             
The bills delivered today contain the Fiscal Year 2003 operating                                    
budget as appropriated by the last Legislature and signed into law by                               
the previous Governor. Again, they provide a useful point of reference                              
for your budget discussions.                                                                        
                                                                                                    

2003-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 0050
This Administration will use the next five weeks to prepare for                                     
delivery to you a responsive state budget for fiscal year 2004.                                     
Departments are evaluating all services they deliver, using the process                             
set forth in Administrative Order 202. This process includes                                        
identification of the intended purpose of all programs, their                                       
effectiveness in delivering those results, and the efficiency in which                              
they use public dollars. The goal is to provide a basis upon which                                  
reasoned budget decisions may be made that further the goals of my                                  
Administration.                                                                                     
                                                                                                    
I look forward to working closely with this Legislature to jointly craft                            
a responsive state budget that efficiently provides Alaska residents                                
essential state services at a cost that the state can afford over the long-                         
term.                                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Sincerely yours,                                                                                    
/s/                                                                                                 
Frank H. Murkowski                                                                                  
Governor                                                                                            
                                                                                                    
A copy of Administrative Order 202 was enclosed.