2017-01-18                     Senate Journal                      Page 0034
The largest component of the capital budget is the State's                                                                      
transportation program, totaling $1.2 billion, including $22 million of                                                         
savings from the vessel replacement fund to match $222.0 million in                                                             
federal receipts to replace the Alaska Marine Highway System's oldest                                                           
vessel, the M/V Tustumena. Outside of the transportation program, this                                                          
budget includes only minimal matching funds for energy, sewer, and                                                              
water projects, limited deferred maintenance, mostly through re-                                                                
appropriations, and limited named recipient's grants, including the                                                             
Alaska Travel Industry Association for tourism marketing. Without a                                                             
full fiscal plan, the capital budget will remain unsustainably low,                                                             
running the risk of allowing our public assets such as schools, ports,                                                          
and roads to deteriorate.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
My administration looks forward to working with the Legislature to                                                              
finalize a capital budget and is interested in collectively looking at a                                                        
disciplined approach to using General Obligation Bonds for existing                                                             
capital requirements.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Thank you for your consideration of this bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 24                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 24 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act making appropriations for the operating and                                                                   
          capital expenses of the state's integrated                                                                            
          comprehensive mental health program; and providing                                                                    
          for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
In accordance with AS 37.14.003(b) a report of the differences                                                                  
between the Governor's proposed budget and the recommendations of                                                               
the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority was transmitted.