Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/06/2008 04:00 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB254 | |
| HB314 | |
| HB106 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 106 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 422 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 314 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 254 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 314
"An Act providing for and relating to the issuance of
general obligation bonds for the purpose of paying the
cost of state transportation projects; and providing
for an effective date."
Representative Thomas MOVED to ADOPT CSHB 314(FIN), labeled
25-GH2041\M, Cook, 4/5/08, as the work draft before the
Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
PETE ECKLUND, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MEYER, discussed
the changes in the bill. He referred to a handout entitled
"Project Title", which describes the changes (copy on file.)
The new total for the G.O Bonds bill is $220,600,000. Mr.
Ecklund listed those projects added to the bill.
5:40:44 PM
Mr. Ecklund listed the three items removed from the bill.
Co-Chair Meyer asked if the Gravina Access was removed in
the Transportation Committee meeting. Mr. Ecklund replied
that was correct. Co-Chair Meyer asked if the South Denali
Access Road project was removed by the Senate. Mr. Ecklund
said it was in the Senate version of the capital budget.
Co-Chair Meyer reported that it was agreed that the Northern
Access Study should not be included in a bond package.
Representative Gara asked if the Gravina Access project was
included somewhere else. Co-Chair Meyer said it was totally
removed.
Representative Crawford asked about the grant to Anchorage
th
for the Victor Road-Dimond Boulevard to 100 Avenue -
upgrade and trade. Co-Chair Meyer explained that there are
about 7 or 8 state roads in Anchorage that are neighborhood
roads now. The City of Anchorage has agreed to take over
these roads. Representative Crawford asked what the
tradeoff was. Co-Chair Meyer said the state would spend $14
million to upgrade the roads and the city would maintain
them.
5:44:29 PM
Vice-Chair Stoltze added that in 1990 two roads in his area
had a similar arrangement.
Representative Thomas noted $10 million for the Port of
Anchorage, which had been twice vetoed. Co-Chair Meyer
explained that the Governor felt that the project should be
in a road bond.
Representative Gara wondered what would happen to the Port
of Anchorage if it was not funded with $10 million in G.O.
Bonds. Co-Chair Meyer thought municipal money should not go
to this project because it is a state project. He requested
testimony from the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities.
5:47:27 PM
FRANK RICHARDS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS & PUBLIC
FACILITIES, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES, reported that in conversations with Governor
Sheffield, it was noted that there were needs for state
funds in order to continue with necessary expansions. The
state is involved because the vast majority of cargo comes
into this port.
Representative Gara said he was just questioning the need
for state money; he was not criticizing the project.
5:51:12 PM
Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1:
Page 2, Line 31
Delete: Access Road to Evacuation Center and
Insert: Access Road, Evacuation Center and
Page 3, Line 7
Delete: Shelter Cove Road
Insert: Shelter Cove, Road Construction
Page 4, Line 21
Delete: $220,000,000
Insert: $220,600,000
Vice-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED.
Mr. Ecklund explained the technical changes in the
amendment.
Representative Hawker MOVED to ADOPT Conceptual Amendment 1
to Amendment 1, to make the same change on line 24, as on
line 21. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Vice-Chair Stoltze WITHDREW his OBJECTION to adopt Amendment
1. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was adopted, as
amended.
5:53:19 PM
Representative Joule MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2:
Page 1, line 9:
Delete "$220,600,000" and insert "234,600,000"
Page 2, line 10:
Delete "$196,600,000" and insert "210,600,000"
Page 2, line 14, insert:
"Aleknagik Wood River Bridge $14,000,000"
Page 4, line 21:
Delete "$220,000,000" and replace with "$234,000,000"
Page 4, line 24:
Delete "$220,000,000" and replace with "$234,000,000"
Vice-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED.
REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE EDGMON, explained that Amendment 2 is
also a technical amendment. It proposes to fully fund a
bridge that would connect the north and south shores of
Aleknagik.
Co-Chair Meyer asked if $14 million is the total cost.
Representative Edmonds clarified that the total cost is $22
million.
Co-Chair Chenault asked if this project is near Dillingham
or Naknek. Mr. Edgmon explained that it was 30 miles away
from Dillingham.
5:55:49 PM
ADAM BERG, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BRYCE EDGMON, explained
that the bridge has $2.2 million in funding already secured.
The requested amount would complete the project. Co-Chair
Meyer and Vice-Chair Stoltze recalled visiting the site.
5:56:59 PM
Representative Crawford asked for information about the
bridge. Representative Edgmon said it was a vehicle bridge.
He explained why it was needed to transport children to
school.
Vice-Chair Stoltze asked if a mineral development
controversy was involved. Mr. Edgmon replied that it was
not.
Representative Nelson recalled that the request has been
around for a number of years. She spoke in support of the
bill for various reasons.
Representative Gara agreed that the bridge has been needed
for years. Representative Edgmon related further reasons
for the need for a bridge.
6:00:48 PM
Co-Chair Meyer noted the attempt to seek a balance in the
G.O. Bond package. He asked the Committee not to accept the
amendment. Representative Edgmon deferred to the will of
the Committee.
Representative Joule WITHDREW Amendment 2.
Representative Joule MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 3:
Page 1, line 9:
Delete "$220,600,000" and replace with "$223,100,000"
Page 2, line 10:
Delete $196,600,000" and replace with "$199,100,000"
Page 2, line 18, add:
"Port of Bristol Bay Dock Expansion/Repair $2,500,000"
Page 4, line 21:
Delete "$220,000,000" and replace with "$222,500,000"
Page 4, line 24:
Delete "$220,000,000" and replace with "$222,500,000"
Vice-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED.
Representative Edgmon explained the amendment is for money
that would be used to help fully fund the expansion of the
Bristol Bay dock.
Co-Chair Meyer said there was money in the capital budget
for this project. Mr. Ecklund agreed. Co-Chair Meyer
preferred to not have this item in the bond package.
Representative Joule WITHDREW Amendment 3.
6:05:28 PM
Representative Thomas asked if the Dalton Highway project is
in the capital budget. Co-Chair Meyer thought that it was
not in the capital budget and that the Governor had
requested it be in a road bond package.
Mr. Richards said there was $4 million in the capital budget
for the Dalton Highway. Co-Chair Meyer summarized that
there was $4 in the Senate capital budget and a request for
$14 million in the G.O. bond bill. Mr. Richards concurred.
Mr. Richards corrected that it was a $5 million project and
was removed from the Senate version of the budget.
Vice-Chair Stoltze asked about the language "bikeway" on
page 2, line 30. Co-Chair Meyer asked if it could be
changed. Mr. Richards said the intent is that improvements
outside of the paved roadway be included. Representative
Hawker offered "multi-modal pedestrian facilities".
Representative Gara thought that bikeway was appropriate as
a tourist attraction.
6:10:50 PM
Representative Gara asked about the Ketchikan project for
$10 million: Harriet Hunt Lake to Shelter Cove Road.
REPRESENTATIVE KYLE JOHANSEN, explained that the road is
part of the Ketchikan Coastal Management Plan. It has been
approved by the Forest Legacy Program, the Department of
Natural Resources, the Ketchikan City Council, Tongass Land
Management Plan, and the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities. It is part of the Ketchikan Borough's
20-20 plan and has a multi-use purpose. It Connects Cape
Fox with 10 miles of road that will tie into 100 miles of
logging roads.
Co-Chair Meyer asked if it is a state road. Representative
Johansen reported that it is a borough road and accesses
Mental Health Trust lands.
AT-EASE: 6:15:38 PM
RECONVENED: 6:27:58 PM
Representative Hawker noted that the project was on the
Roads to Resources Initiative.
Co-Chair Meyer asked about the Department of Revenue fiscal
note.
JERRY BURNETT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, said the department would
provide the Committee with a debt service fiscal note with
annual payments of about $17, 254, 046.30.
Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT CSHB 314(FIN) out of
Committee, as amended, with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it
was so ordered.
CSHB 314(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with fiscal note #1 by the Office of the
Governor and a new fiscal note by the Department of Revenue.
6:32:38 PM
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