2010-01-19                     Senate Journal                      Page 1250
SB 229                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 229 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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          "An Act making appropriations for the operating and                                                                   
          loan program expenses of state government, for                                                                        
          certain programs, and to capitalize funds; making                                                                     
          supplemental appropriations; making appropriations                                                                    
          under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of                                                               
          Alaska; and providing for an effective date."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 15,                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Art. III, Sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I                                                         
am transmitting a bill relating to the State's operating budget for Fiscal                                                      
Year 2011 (FY 2011).                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
My number one mission as Governor is to promote economic growth                                                                 
and opportunities for families in Alaska. My budget proposal for FY                                                             
2011 is based on clear priorities from our constitutional mandates for                                                          
spending: education, public safety, transportation, and responsible                                                             
resource development.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
With the mission and priorities set, I established guiding principles for                                                       
the budget. First, it is important to maintain budget discipline by                                                             
limiting State agency growth; second, we need to focus on results for                                                           
Alaskans; and third, we will take the long-term view for budget and                                                             
policy decisions that will promote the economic growth necessary for                                                            
Alaskans to prosper. This budget also recognizes that responsible                                                               
resource development has allowed Alaska the opportunity to grow and                                                             
prosper, and remains the foundation for our future prosperity.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The improved fall revenue forecast is good news for Alaska. Increased                                                           
revenue and fiscal restraint means there will be surplus revenue in the                                                         
current year and next. The projected surplus means we will not have to                                                          
draw on our savings in 2010 or 2011.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Instead, we have the opportunity to save for the future.  I am                                                                  
recommending that we save surplus revenue to forward fund K-12                                                                  
education. I am also proposing to save $400 million and utilize the                                                             

2010-01-19                     Senate Journal                      Page 1252
earnings to fund the Governor's Performance Scholarship aimed at                                                                
increasing academic rigor and high school completion rates, which                                                               
will translate into skillfully trained workforce ready to lead Alaska's                                                         
economy in the future.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
I look forward to working with the Legislature to finalize the operating                                                        
budget for the upcoming fiscal year.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sean Parnell                                                                                                                    
Governor