2010-07-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 2586
SB 230                                                                                                                        
Message dated June 3 was received, stating:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2010-07-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 2587
On this date I signed, with line item vetoes, the following bill passed                                                         
by the second 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.                                                                                    
         230(FIN) am H "An Act making and amending                                                                              
         appropriations, including capital appropriations,                                                                      
         supplemental appropriations, and other                                                                                 
         appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize                                                                    
         funds; and providing for an effective date."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                            Chapter 43, SLA 2010                                                                               
                        Effective Date: See Chapter                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
We will grow Alaska by investing in infrastructure while spending less                                                          
and saving more for the future. In developing the budget, I set a                                                               
spending limit and allocated funds to constitutionally established                                                              
priorities; including resource development, education, public safety,                                                           
and infrastructure. The capital budget I presented for legislative                                                              
consideration provided a healthy level of investment while taking the                                                           
longer term view of spending.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
As passed, the level of spending in the capital budget is too high.                                                             
Because Alaska is so dependent on volatile oil revenues, it makes                                                               
sense to look forward ten years and save for the day when we again                                                              
are likely to have a sizeable deficit. I have made reductions with                                                              
several key factors in mind - life/health/safety, infrastructure and jobs                                                       
now, and balance across legislative districts. I appreciate legislators                                                         
working with me to identify the high priority projects in their districts.                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HCS CSSB 230(FIN) am H as passed by the Legislature contained                                                                   
appropriations for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, totaling $3.2 billion,                                                           
including $1.6 billion in general funds. Through line-item vetoes, I                                                            
have reduced the appropriations in the capital budget by $300 million                                                           
of which $293.5 million is general fund. The enclosed spreadsheet                                                               
contains a summary of the vetoed appropriations including the page                                                              
and line number, fund source, and the reason for the veto.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2010-07-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 2588
The capital budget I signed into law includes $1.26 billion for                                                                 
transportation, including highways and aviation projects, $88.5 million                                                         
for water and sewer projects, $451.6 million for K-12 education and                                                             
the University, $123.3 million for deferred maintenance projects, and                                                           
$77.2 million for renewable and other energy projects. Funding for fire                                                         
stations and emergency services, seniors and elder care facilities, port                                                        
and harbor development was also approved along with $35 million for                                                             
the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, $40 million for the Tanana River                                                             
Bridge, and $20 million for the Port of Anchorage which are                                                                     
significant economic development projects that will create jobs and                                                             
economic growth.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
These new capital dollars, along with over $750 million in projects                                                             
from previous capital budgets that are going out to bid over the next                                                           
few months, will put Alaskans to work now. The budget focuses on                                                                
the State's constitutional responsibilities, resource development and                                                           
management, schools, public safety, and infrastructure essential to                                                             
Alaska's economic future.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sean Parnell                                                                                                                    
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.