2025-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 0071
SB 72                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 72 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation                                                                   
          to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of                                                                  
          the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock                                                                      
          and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and                                                                  
          providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community,                                                                    
  and Economic Development                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 23:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to increasing the bonding                                                       
authority of the Alaska Railroad Corporation to construct a new dock                                                            
and terminal in Seward, Alaska.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The legislature authorized $60,000,000 in bonds for this purpose                                                                
during the Thirty-Second Alaska State Legislature. This bill would                                                              
increase the Corporation's bonding authority to $135,000,000 in order                                                           
to construct the new dock and terminal. The existing Seward dock is                                                             

2025-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 0072
nearing the end of its useful life. The dock is a critical connection for                                                       
hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers and visitors arriving each                                                           
summer, many of whom bring tourism dollars to Alaska businesses                                                                 
throughout the State. Without the increase in bonding authority                                                                 
authorized by this bill, closure or curtailed use of the existing dock is                                                       
inevitable. This is a true economic development project to both replace                                                         
an existing asset and expand its capability for the future.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to the Corporation's organic statutes, legislative approval is                                                         
required in order for the Corporation to issue bonds to fund this                                                               
necessary and beneficial project. The contemplated bonds will be                                                                
guaranteed by revenues of the Corporation and are not a liability of the                                                        
State. No state dollars will be used to repay them.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor