Legislature(1997 - 1998)
03/22/1997 10:10 AM Senate FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 83
"An Act making an appropriation for management fees for
the constitutional budget reserve fund (art. IX, sec. 17,
Constitution of the State of Alaska); and providing for
an effective date."
Co-chair Pearce convened the meeting. She noted that first
on the agenda supplemental and RPL's would be taken up. Any
new items would also be taken up. OMB was also present and
would be going through some priorities of theirs' and three
specific requests from Legislators.
Karen Rehfeld, Director, Education Support Services,
Department of Education was invited to join the committee.
She reviewed Department of Education RPL's and noted the
requests have been included in the FY '98 budget. In FY '96
the concern was with the federal shut down. The division
was very conservative with it's use of federal dollars. It
involved not only cuts to the U.S. Department of Education
but also Rehabilitation Services. It was also noted that
the Mt. Edgecombe boarding school would like to host summer
activities. Program receipts would come from Alaska Arts
Southeast and the Sitka Skipper's Organization. The final
request for general fund program receipts for the State
museum. The entrance fee to the museums was increased last
year from $2 to $3/person. This generated approximately
$80,000.
Senator Donley referred to a particular line item and wanted
to know where the computers were physically located for the
museums. Ms. Rehfeld said it was her understanding that the
intention was to connect the Sheldon Jackson museum with the
State museum in Juneau. They were also intending to
complete a project automating the collections on the
internet. In response to a question from Senator Donley she
said this did not relate to library services.
Co-chair Pearce referred to a 20 March letter from Dan
Spencer with the Department of Law involving two additional
items; Cook vs. Bothelo which was discussed Thursday.
Annalee McConnell, Director, Office of Management and Budget
was invited to join the committee. She felt that perhaps
updated spread sheets would be more informative than each
time submitting a letter. Judgments and claims were brought
forward individually so that the Department did not incur
late payments. Senator Phillips felt there should be a cut
off date and whatever remained be dealt with next year.
Senator Adams suggested the easiest way might be to get the
house bill and then have one big spread sheet.
Ms. McConnell continued regarding contractual obligations
with property owners. There was concern because this item
had not been fully funded. A list of leases was provided to
House Finance with options of prorating payments for the
last couple months of the year, not paying anything on some
leases and etc. She suggested an update of the projections
of the longevity bonus; estimating that there would probably
be a $1.5 million not necessary to fund the longevity bonus
program in FY '97 and it could be done as a delete/add.
That could be done to cover the lease obligation. The
second item was disaster relief. She wanted noted that if
the $585,000 was not part of the FY '97 supplemental it will
need to be added to the budget in FY '98 creating more
pressure there. The third item was increased fuel costs for
the Marine Highway. Nancy Slagle explained the average
price would have to drop to $0.65/gallon if the House
recommendation were to be followed. The average price was
$0.82/gallon and if that trend continued Marine Highway
would still have to absorb because that would result in a
$471,000 increase for the full year in fuel. Marine Highway
was not asking to increase their supplemental; they will
absorb it. However, they have already absorbed $1.7 million
throughout FY '97 and it was getting to a real pressure
point. In talking to Nancy Slagle the recommendation,
about fuel provided the house committee suggesting it could
be reduced to $130,000, was done on a straight-lined
projection. DOT has a much more precise, sophisticated
projection process including actual weeks of service,
mileage and so forth. The next item referred to was the
McLaughlin and Fairbanks Youth Facilities security fences.
She referred to a conversation with Senator Sharp for a less
expensive way to do the Fairbanks security. She will
discuss the matter further with H&SS and advise Senator
Sharp whether a gate instead of a full perimeter fence would
be an acceptable alternative. She did, however, encourage
the committee to include these items due to the pressure on
the '98 budget (where it will have to be moved if it is not
done in the supplemental) and further because they would
like to commence the procurement process as soon as
possible. In response to a comment from Senator Phillips
she said Co-chair Hanley felt this could be funded with a
portion of the '97 AHFC monies that were not already
appropriated. There were $53 million that could have been
appropriated in '97; the Legislature did not fully utilize
that amount and co-chair Hanley left that open as a possible
source. She advised that they had suggested the police
training academy be funded with that source of money.
Senator Donley asked if this was an electronic fence or some
special surveillance system. Ms. McConnell said neither of
the facilities had full fences around them. As Janet Clarke
indicated the facilities were built as an open campus. Now
we are seeing violent offenders put there. Senator Donley
still felt the cost for the fence system was too expensive
at $1.2 million. Senator Torgerson said one would have to
figure out what kind of fence was needed. Ms. McConnell
said she would ask H&SS to provide further information
regarding the cost break down.
She continued on to Alaska Psychiatric Institute RPL. They
would be receiving more in third party payments than
expected and it was necessary to make a funding source
change. The last item was the training academy at Sitka.
They needed a new shooting range and women's dorm. Senator
Phillips asked if other communities used the Academy. Ms.
McConnell indicated that the northern folks were trained in
Anchorage and folks from Southeast and other areas were
trained in Sitka. He further asked if Anchorage Police
Department used the Sitka facility. Ms. McConnell indicated
they did not.
Ken Bischoff, Director, Administrative Services, Department
of Public Safety was invited to join the committee. He said
the Sitka academy trained statewide except Anchorage. The
communities did pay travel and expenses of officers as they
could. Funds also came from the Police Standards Training
fund. However, some municipalities do not have the
resources to meet necessary standards of the Alaska Police
Standards Council. Traditionally there had been some level
of state subsidy to other municipalities. Senator Sharp
asked the percentage of the total operating cost of the
facility that is program receipts from the users. Mr.
Bischoff said he believed the percentage is approximately
one-third.
Senator Donley asked if there was State subsidy for room and
board and Mr. Bischoff acknowledged to some degree they did.
The Senator further inquired if there had ever been any
women recruits turned away from the academy. Mr. Bischoff
indicated there had been. He said there were not enough
spaces to accommodate female recruits.
Senator Phillips asked about training in other States. Mr.
Bischoff said a 12-week training in Alaska cost $5,600,
whereas the same session in the State of Utah cost $2,000.
There was a set of fixed and variable costs. The full
variable cost for instructors to be brought in, turning on
the lights, providing room and board, were typically paid
for through the Police Standards Council or the
municipality. Senator Torgerson asked of the one-third in
program receipts how much was a $10 surcharge. Mr. Bischoff
said the surcharge came from the Police Standards Training
fund.
Senator Donley asked what percentage of all traffic tickets
in alaska come from the Anchorage area. Mr. Bischoff said
approximately 45%. Senator Donley noted all that money went
for subsidizing the academy however Anchorage did not use
the academy.
Co-chair Pearce advised that any further supplemental
requests from committee members or other members it must be
in her office by Monday along with any back-up material. It
would then be made available to all committee members and
she would continue this hearing until next Wednesday, 26
March.
(There was a brief recess to change co-chair.)
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|