2009-08-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1125
SB 75                                                                                                                         
Message dated May 21 was received stating:                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
On this date I signed with line-item vetoes the following bill passed by                                                        
the first regular session of the Twenty-Sixth Alaska State Legislature                                                          
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.                                                                                    
         75(FIN) "An Act making and amending                                                                                    
         appropriations, including capital appropriations,                                                                      
         supplemental appropriations, and appropriations to                                                                     
          capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date."                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                           Chapter 15, SLA 2009                                                                                
                       [Effective Date: See Chapter]                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The budget goals for this administration have been very clear:  to slow                                                         
the growth of government, live within our means, and save for the                                                               
future.  The capital budget presented for legislative consideration this                                                        
past session was designed to meet these goals.  I appreciate the careful                                                        
consideration and support from the Legislature of this request.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SB 75, as passed by the Legislature, contained appropriations for                                                               
FY2009 and FY2010 totaling $1.87 billion, including $179.4 million                                                              
in general funds.  Through line-item vetoes, I have reduced the                                                                 
appropriations in SB 75 by $11.9 million of which $6.3 million is                                                               
general fund.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Given the decline in oil price and projected revenues for the next fiscal                                                       
year, this is a modest capital budget.  There were very few legislative                                                         
additions to the budget I presented and there were a number of                                                                  
reductions made throughout the legislative session.  The Legislature                                                            
added projects funded with cruise passenger tax funds and the majority                                                          
of those projects remain in the budget.  I have reduced one project to                                                          
the level that I had previously requested and vetoed three others and                                                           
will consider those in a future budget.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2009-08-05                     Senate Journal                      Page 1126
The Legislature also added capital projects for the Alaska Court                                                                
System including court security, caseload, and facility improvements.                                                           
I included the court security funding in full and partially vetoed the                                                          
caseload and facility improvements recognizing these are needed                                                                 
projects and are increases over what was proposed in our budget.   The                                                          
enclosed spreadsheet contains a summary of the vetoed appropriations                                                            
including the page and line number, fund source, and the reason for                                                             
the veto.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
This budget focuses on the state's basic responsibilities, schools,                                                             
public safety, and needed transportation improvements that are                                                                  
essential to getting Alaska's infrastructure ready for the state's                                                              
economic future.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There is more work to be done and I am committed to working with                                                                
the Legislature to move Alaska forward.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sarah Palin                                                                                                                     
Governor                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
A spreadsheet from the Office of Management and Budget, Office of                                                               
the Governor accompanied the preceding letter and is on file in the                                                             
Office of the Senate Secretary.