Legislature(2011 - 2012)
2012-09-25 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2012-09-25 Senate Journal Page 2471 SB 160 Message dated May 14 was received stating: Dear President Stevens: On this date, I have signed with line item vetoes, the following bill passed by the second session of the Twenty-Seventh Alaska State Legislature and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing: 2012-09-25 Senate Journal Page 2472 HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 160(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 No. 17, SLA 2012 [Effective Date: See Chapter] Our Administration's goals are to promote economic opportunity and strengthen Alaskan families. The budget I presented for legislative consideration and the budget I sign today reflect those priorities. I was pleased legislators agreed with and stuck to my spending limit on overall capital spending. I also appreciate the detailed legislative consideration of the budget as well as the work of our Administration members on these appropriations. HCS CSSB 160 (FIN) am H, as passed by the Legislature, contains capital appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 and Fiscal Year 2013, totaling $2.9 billion, including $1.9 billion in general funds. The capital budget will fund many important transportation and infrastructure projects across the state. More than $1.6 billion was appropriated for highways, aviation, the Alaska Marine Highway, harbors, village safe water, and municipal water and sewer projects. Funding is also included for statewide energy projects such as weatherization programs to help Alaskans make their homes more energy efficient, renewable energy projects that target areas with the highest energy costs, and home energy rebates. Through line-item vetoes, I have reduced a limited number of appropriations in SB 160, totaling $12.6 million. The following describes the reason for the vetoes, which are also detailed on the enclosed spreadsheet. Behavioral Health Grants for Substance Abuse Treatment Programs - Even with vetoed amounts, I have approved a $9 million increase to provide programs and services to vulnerable populations 2012-09-25 Senate Journal Page 2473 over a three year period, and an additional $1.3 million in the Department of Corrections operating budget for substance abuse treatment. As a reference point, Alaska spends over $50 million annually on substance abuse programs including detox, residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and opioid treatment for approximately 7,100 individuals. In adding money to this area, the Legislature did not provide detailed backup on how the appropriation was to be spent. After consulting with the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department has outlined specific projects that target treatment and services for pregnant women, families at risk, integration of intervention and screening programs, drug therapy for high risk individuals, and low-cost, effective substance abuse therapy delivered via technology for rural locations. These projects will be part of a three year effort, and will be evaluated on an annual basis, to determine the effectiveness of the efforts. The increased funding remaining after vetoes is sufficient for the Department's three year plan. ASD Pre-Kindergarten Project Expansion - This year, I have approved an increase of $3,867,500 for early learning programs - a 38 percent increase in funding over the current year. The enclosed chart illustrates the growth in early learning programs over the past four years. After accepting these increases, I vetoed the Anchorage School District's request to be the sole recipient of a Pre-K grant in the capital budget. This project is more appropriately funded in the Department of Education and Early Development's Pre-K statewide program, and considered in the context of all the districts in the state. Simply put, we need not open the floodgates in the coming years to individual districts seeking designated grants in this statewide program. Alaska Moose Federation (AMF) Moose Rescue and Relocation Program - I have supported and continue to support the AMF's work in the statewide moose salvage program and its orphaned calf rescue efforts. I cannot at this time, however, support AMF's desire to relocate adult moose between various game management units. Additional evaluation and coordination is needed between AMF and the Department of Fish and Game to determine if a large-scale 2012-09-25 Senate Journal Page 2474 relocation program can be conducted in a scientifically sound manner and achieve the desired result of supplementing low-density moose populations in rural Alaska. This appropriation has been reduced to $500,000 to cover orphaned calf rescue efforts. World Trade Center Alaska (WTC) - International Trade Partnership Project - The WTC has received previous State appropriations, and still has a sufficient balance on hand of existing funds to continue its efforts in the next fiscal year without additional grant funds. Additionally, with respect to State funding currently in the WTC's hands, the State has been unable to obtain adequate information sufficient to assure appropriate accountability. The WTC will need to develop a more detailed business plan and provide more information before requesting additional funding in a future budget. These capital dollars will create jobs and opportunity for Alaskans, meet the State's constitutional responsibilities of resource development, education, public safety, and infrastructure essential to Alaska's economic future, and address high-priority projects in districts across the state. Building on the success we were able to achieve this legislative session on the budget, I look forward to further refining our spending targets for both the operating and capital budget in the future. Sincerely, /s/ Sean Parnell Governor