Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519

03/23/2021 01:30 PM House FINANCE

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

Audio Topic
01:35:21 PM Start
01:36:17 PM Presentation: Alaska Marine Highway System by Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
02:23:36 PM Overview: Covid Funding Fy 21 and Fy 22 Budget Overview and Update by Department of Transportation
02:57:26 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Overview: COVID Funding FY 21 & FY 22 Budget TELECONFERENCED
Update by Dom Pannone, Administrative Services
Director, Dept. of Transportation
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
-- Continued from 03/22/21 --
+ Presentation: Alaska Marine Highway Systems by TELECONFERENCED
Deputy Commissioner Rob Carpenter, Dept. of
Transportation
                   HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                       March 23, 2021                                                                                           
                          1:35 p.m.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:35:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick called the  House Finance Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 1:35 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Kelly Merrick, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Ben Carpenter                                                                                                    
Representative Bryce Edgmon                                                                                                     
Representative DeLena Johnson                                                                                                   
Representative Andy Josephson                                                                                                   
Representative Bart LeBon                                                                                                       
Representative Sara Rasmussen                                                                                                   
Representative Steve Thompson                                                                                                   
Representative Adam Wool                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Rob   Carpenter,   Deputy    Commissioner,   Department   of                                                                    
Transportation and  Public Facilities; Matt  McLaren, Alaska                                                                    
Marine   Highway   System  Business   Development   Manager,                                                                    
Department  of  Transportation  and Public  Facilities;  Dom                                                                    
Pannone,  Administrative  Services Director,  Department  of                                                                    
Transportation and  Public Facilities, Office  of Management                                                                    
and Budget, Office of the Governor.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION: ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY  SYSTEM BY DEPARTMENT OF                                                                    
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OVERVIEW: COVID FUNDING FY 21  and FY 22 BUDGET OVERVIEW and                                                                    
UPDATE BY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                                                                                          
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the meeting agenda.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION:  ALASKA MARINE  HIGHWAY SYSTEM  BY DEPARTMENT                                                                  
OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:36:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROB   CARPENTER,   DEPUTY    COMMISSIONER,   DEPARTMENT   OF                                                                    
TRANSPORTATION AND  PUBLIC FACILITIES  (via teleconference),                                                                    
continued  a  PowerPoint   presentation  from  the  previous                                                                    
afternoon, "Alaska  Department of Transportation  and Public                                                                    
Facilities:  House Finance  Committee Alaska  Marine Highway                                                                    
System." He  noted the  committee was on  slide 5.  He added                                                                    
that Ketchikan  had just had  a power outage and  would join                                                                    
the meeting when possible.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:37:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter  advanced to slide 6,  "Historical Traffic and                                                                    
Operating  Weeks." The  slide showed  vehicle and  passenger                                                                    
ridership  from 1989  to 2020.  He noted  that the  red line                                                                    
reflected the  operating weeks shown in  previous slides. He                                                                    
felt that vehicles  ridership had been steady  but there had                                                                    
been a continuous decline in  passenger count.  He asked his                                                                    
colleague to provide additional detail.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MATT   MCLAREN,  ALASKA   MARINE  HIGHWAY   SYSTEM  BUSINESS                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT  MANAGER,   DEPARTMENT  OF   TRANSPORTATION  AND                                                                    
PUBLIC FACILITIES  (via teleconference),  spoke to  slide 6.                                                                    
He reiterated  that vehicle traffic had  been consistent and                                                                    
passenger traffic  had declined since 2005.  He thought that                                                                    
the  decline was  due to  easier  access to  air travel  and                                                                    
people wanting to travel without vehicles.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:39:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Thompson  wondered  what  kind  of  seasonal                                                                    
change there was  in terms of passenger  ridership. He asked                                                                    
whether travel was heavier in the summer.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren replied  that there was much  heavier traffic in                                                                    
the summer,  May through September,  at 60 to 70  percent of                                                                    
the total.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Ortiz  asked  whether  there  was  a  connection                                                                    
between the lack of a  known supply of ferries and declining                                                                    
ridership.  He  asked  whether  there  had  been  a  growing                                                                    
deterioration of  confidence from  the rider  standpoint due                                                                    
to scheduling issues.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren  replied that  the department  received numerous                                                                    
calls  early  on  from travel  operators  and  tourists  who                                                                    
wanted to book  far in advance. He said  that the department                                                                    
was  looking into  the  last 5  to 10  years  to identify  a                                                                    
correlation  between when  schedules are  released and  when                                                                    
the  budget   is  allocated.  He  offered   to  provide  the                                                                    
information later.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:42:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool  observed a steady decline  in passenger                                                                    
traffic  beginning in  1998 and  continuing  until 2006.  He                                                                    
noted that operating weeks had  increased beginning in 2002.                                                                    
He wondered about the divergence.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  McLaren responded  that in  2005-2007, operating  weeks                                                                    
increased  by  approximately  40  percent,  while  ridership                                                                    
increased by  18 percent. He  said that adding  more service                                                                    
had not  seemed to increase  ridership. He relayed  that the                                                                    
department  was now  trying to  operate more  efficiently to                                                                    
maximize revenues.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Wool  discussed  the  decline  in  operating                                                                    
weeks  in  the past  few  years.  He  assumed the  red  line                                                                    
reflecting operating  weeks would  increase a bit.  He asked                                                                    
how  much  of   the  decline  had  been   due  to  equipment                                                                    
malfunction.  He  asked  about the  target  operating  weeks                                                                    
going forward.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:45:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  McLaren  replied  that  he would  follow  up  with  the                                                                    
information  about  equipment  malfunction. He  shared  that                                                                    
286.7  operating  weeks were  in  the  in FY  21  authorized                                                                    
budget.  He  said  that  due   to  decreased  revenue  those                                                                    
operating  weeks had  been reduced  to 204.5.  He said  that                                                                    
there were 241.9 operating weeks  in the governor's proposed                                                                    
budget.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool asked about  long-term goals. He pointed                                                                    
to  the serious  decline over  the past  10 years.  He asked                                                                    
about  the   goal  for   a  stable,   predictable  operating                                                                    
schedule.                                                                                                                       
Mr. McLaren replied that the  question would be address in a                                                                    
later slide.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:48:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  recognized that  Representative  Carpenter                                                                    
had joined the meeting.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren  turned to slide  7, "AMHS  System-Wide Capacity                                                                    
Utilization 2011  - 2019."  He pointed  out that  the yellow                                                                    
bar represented  vehicle utilization,  which had been  at 60                                                                    
percent to 65  percent, dropping in 2018 and  2019. He noted                                                                    
that  passenger utilization  had also  declined in  the past                                                                    
few  years. He  relayed that  the slide  compared demand  to                                                                    
routes  run in  particular years  and how  passenger numbers                                                                    
for those years.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter addressed  a bar chart on slide 8,  "FY 2015 -                                                                    
2022  Gov.  Proposed  AMHS   Operating  Budget  Fund  Source                                                                    
Comparison." The  blue portion  of the bars  reflected state                                                                    
funds,  revenues  were  shown   in  gray,  Coronavirus  Aid,                                                                    
Relief, and  Economic Security (CARES) Act  funds were shown                                                                    
in green,  and other  funds were shown  in purple.  He noted                                                                    
that  the slide  showed the  impacts  to the  system due  to                                                                    
Covid-19  of roughly  $45 million  dollars. He  related that                                                                    
the  governor's proposed  budget  was $55  million in  state                                                                    
funds and $852.7  million in other funds  and an anticipated                                                                    
$47 million in revenue.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:51:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter  continued to  the  spreadsheet  on slide  9,                                                                    
"FY2022 Scenario A - Sample  Operation Plan." He shared that                                                                    
legislative finance  committees had requested  and alternate                                                                    
scenario of additional  funding to the system  over what was                                                                    
included in  the governors  budget,  which was  reflected on                                                                    
the slide. The  slide showed the FY 20 and  FY 21 authorized                                                                    
budgets with  expected weeks of  service and ports  of call.                                                                    
The fourth column  to the right showed the  governors  FY 22                                                                    
proposed  budget.  He  pointed   to  the  far-right  column,                                                                    
 scenario A  and said that  additional funding. He explained                                                                    
that the additional dollars would  go towards an increase in                                                                    
winter service, with less service  gaps, and would allow for                                                                    
year-round crew retention.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  LeBon spoke  to  the FY  22 proposed  budget                                                                    
that did  not show any  CARES Act funding. He  asked whether                                                                    
it meant that no covid-19 relief funding was expected.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter replied  that the release of the  FY 22 budget                                                                    
had  been  prior  to  the   Coronavirus  Response  &  Relief                                                                    
Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA).                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool asked  for the source of  the Motor Fuel                                                                    
Tax in the columns on slide 9.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter  answered that the  source of funding  was the                                                                    
standard  Motor Fuel  Tax, a  marine  component and  highway                                                                    
component. He  said that  the allocation ad  not gone  up or                                                                    
down with the volatility of the Motor Fuel Tax.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:56:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool  asked whether  it was dependent  on the                                                                    
amount of motor  fuel tax the state took in.  he wondered if                                                                    
the  tax   were  increased  whether  the   allocation  would                                                                    
increase as well. He asked  whether the  port calls  line on                                                                    
the  chart reflected  the total  cumulative stops  at ports,                                                                    
form all ships, per year.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter replied that when  the department had incurred                                                                    
a shortfall of  Motor Fuel Tax it had  looked agencywide for                                                                    
areas  where funding  could be  restricted or  cut. He  said                                                                    
that if  a motor  fuel tax  increase passed  the legislature                                                                    
and was signed into law it  would provide an increase in the                                                                    
revenue source that could be  appropriated to the agency. He                                                                    
shared that the  port calls line showed the  total number of                                                                    
visits a ship made to a community in one year.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool surmised it was all ships combined.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter responded affirmatively.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  looked at slide 8.  He noted there                                                                    
had been  three substantial federal  acts in the  past year.                                                                    
He asked whether there had  been anything in those acts that                                                                    
could supplement the $3.5 million.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter replied  that the  CRRSAA money  had included                                                                    
over $100  million form  the Federal  highway Administration                                                                    
that was  primarily eligible for  Title 23  capital projects                                                                    
but had  an authority  provision for operating  purposes. He                                                                    
said that additionally  there had been $55  million from the                                                                    
Federal   Transit  Administration   that  was   for  transit                                                                    
organizations,  13   in  the   state  which   were  eligible                                                                    
including the AMHS.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson asked  how the  administration had                                                                    
recommended spending  the $100 million CRRSAA  money and the                                                                    
$55 million transit dollars.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter  replied that they  had not yet put  forward a                                                                    
proposal. The  department had been  working with  the Office                                                                    
of Management and Budget to  solidify the details. He stated                                                                    
that there was a lot of demand across multiple grantees.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:01:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson said  that  last  federal act  had                                                                    
                   th                                                                                                           
passed  December 27,   he  wondered  whether the  governors                                                                     
amended budget  bills had included  any direction  about how                                                                    
to spend the funds.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter   reiterated  that   they  did  not   have  a                                                                    
recommendation yet  and they had  been working with  OMB and                                                                    
the proposal was not yet out.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren turned to slide  10, "FY2015 - FY2022 Governor's                                                                    
Proposed  Budget AMHS  Cash Sources  and  Uses." He  relayed                                                                    
that  there were  three vessels  to focus  on including  the                                                                    
Kennicott,  the Columbia,  and the  Matanuska. He  said that                                                                    
the Kennicott was covering most  of the entire system, which                                                                    
was the same schedule anticipated for the next year.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:05:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Ortiz  looked at slide  10 and observed  that the                                                                    
Aurora was part  of the plan moving forward.  He asked about                                                                    
the status of the vessel.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  McLaren  replied  that  the  vessel  was  finishing  up                                                                    
overhaul and was scheduled to begin on April 15.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Ortiz  observed that  the service for  the vessel                                                                    
                                  th                                                                                            
was  scheduled to  begin March  10   and noted  that it  was                                                                    
already behind schedule.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren  clarified that  the projection  was for  FY 22,                                                                    
not the current fiscal year.                                                                                                    
Mr. McLaren addressed  slide 11, which showed  the AMHS fund                                                                    
balance  from FY  14 -  FY  22 for  the governor's  proposed                                                                    
budget. He  said that the  Kennicott would not  cover Prince                                                                    
William Sound or the Homer/Kodiak  area during the projected                                                                    
timeframe, which  allowed for more service  in Southeast. He                                                                    
shared that in  the previous year services  had been reduced                                                                    
ion Southeast  due to revenue shortfalls.  He furthered that                                                                    
the Aurora  would be able  to continue providing  service to                                                                    
Prince William Sound during the  period. He pointed out that                                                                    
the Tustemena  would have the ability  to continue operating                                                                    
and  would  provide service  in  the  Homer/Kodiak area.  He                                                                    
stated that  the projections decreased  some of  the service                                                                    
gaps and  increased service  frequency to  all areas  of the                                                                    
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:08:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Wool  asked   whether  the  Aurora  serviced                                                                    
Prince  William Sound,  Whittier,  Cordova,  and Valdez.  He                                                                    
asked whether  the schedule would be  consistent through the                                                                    
winter months.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren  replied in the  affirmative. He  explained that                                                                    
Prince William Sound would not  have to wait for every other                                                                    
week for the Kennicott to provide service.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:09:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter   discussed  slide   12,  "FY2015   -  FY2022                                                                    
Governor's  Proposed  Budget  -  AMHS  Service."  The  slide                                                                    
showed a  historical spreadsheet  showing cash  flow sources                                                                    
and  uses. He  said that  the top  portion was  state funded                                                                    
revenue with  the funding  usage below.  He noted  that they                                                                    
were projected to end FY 21  with a $6.6 million deficit. He                                                                    
shared  that  FY 21  operating  plan  had been  reduced.  He                                                                    
asserted that  they were  looking for  a best  path forward,                                                                    
working with the legislature and OMB.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair   Ortiz  asked   about  the   drop  off   in  UGF                                                                    
appropriations.  He considered  FY 14  and wondered  whether                                                                    
the UGF figure went higher than the $107 million.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter responded  by referencing  slide 3.  The dark                                                                    
blue represented state funding,  mostly UGF, which peaked in                                                                    
the FY 14/FY 15 time period.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Ortiz asked  whether  it was  safe  to say  that                                                                    
while DOT  had been cut, the  AMHS had been cut  by at least                                                                    
60 percent.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter  responded that 60 percent  decline in funding                                                                    
was correct.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:12:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter moved  to slide  13,  showing the  governor's                                                                    
proposed budget  and AMHS fund  balance. He stated  that the                                                                    
total  fund  balance in  FY  20  was  $8.5 million  and  was                                                                    
projected in  be zero  for FY 21.  He shared  that typically                                                                    
there was  a fund balance to  manage cash flow which  as now                                                                    
nonexistent.  He  shared that  they  strived  for around  10                                                                    
percent of  the budget,  which meant  that the  system would                                                                    
need $10 million.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson   was  trying  to   determine  the                                                                    
correlation between  ships on the  water and  cost recovery.                                                                    
He  considered the  value to  coastal Alaska.  He looked  at                                                                    
slide  3 showing  a  huge decline  in  revenue. He  wondered                                                                    
whether the recovery rate was linked to ridership.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter answered  that revenues  had remained  fairly                                                                    
flat but the  UGF budget had increased so that  the ratio to                                                                    
of revenue  to total budget dropped  significantly. He noted                                                                    
that in  2021 revenues plummeted.  He shared that  they were                                                                    
trying  to  reach  50  percent  revenue,  50  percent  state                                                                    
funding. He  relayed the challenge of  understanding whether                                                                    
providing  more service  increased  ridership  and what  was                                                                    
needed  to   provide  basic   service  to   all  communities                                                                    
regardless   of  low   populations.  He   shared  that   the                                                                    
department felt  the level in  the $100 million range  was a                                                                    
spot  where the  department  could meet  demand and  provide                                                                    
support to all  ports reliably. He said that  the more ships                                                                    
running meant  higher costs; therefore,  the idea  was fewer                                                                    
ships and improved utilization.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:18:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson asked whether  the higher UGF years                                                                    
on  slide 3  reflected all  costs to  the system,  including                                                                    
fast ferries.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter replied  that it  was  partially correct.  He                                                                    
pointed  to  the note  on  the  slide  that added  the  fast                                                                    
ferries  in  2004  and  2007 when  more  services  had  been                                                                    
provided  because  funding had  been  higher.  He said  that                                                                    
ridership  at that  time had  not necessarily  increased but                                                                    
had been spread out.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:19:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter  turned to  slide 14,  which provided  a recap                                                                    
and projections  of the  weeks of service  FY 15  through FY                                                                    
22.  He noted  that  Metlakatla had  been  removed from  the                                                                    
data. He  stated that in FY  22 weeks of service  would drop                                                                    
from 241  to 192.  Ports of  call would  drop from  4,175 to                                                                    
3,675.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool  asked whether Metlakatla was  a ship or                                                                    
a place.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Carpenter  clarified  that   it  was  a  location  near                                                                    
Ketchikan.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool  confessed he was not  familiar with all                                                                    
routes.  He  understood  that the  difference  in  weeks  of                                                                    
service, less Metlakatla, was considerable.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter replied that the  other graphs did include the                                                                    
Metlakatla run.  He explained  that it  was a  bit different                                                                    
than the  rest of the routes  in the system. He  agreed that                                                                    
historical graphs included Metlakatla.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Ortiz clarified that  the Metlakatla run did well                                                                    
in terms of fare-box recovery.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Carpenter agreed.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. McLaren  agreed that  it was  one of  the few  runs that                                                                    
paid for itself throughout the year.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
^OVERVIEW: COVID  FUNDING FY  21 and  FY 22  BUDGET OVERVIEW                                                                  
and UPDATE BY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:23:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DOM  PANNONE, ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES DIRECTOR,  DEPARTMENT                                                                    
OF   TRANSPORTATION  AND   PUBLIC   FACILITIES,  OFFICE   OF                                                                    
MANAGEMENT  AND   BUDGET,  OFFICE   OF  THE   GOVERNOR  (via                                                                    
teleconference),   provided   a   PowerPoint   presentation,                                                                    
"Alaska  Department of  Transportation  & Public  Facilities                                                                    
House Finance Committee: Coronavirus  Aid, Relief & Economic                                                                    
Security  Act  (CARES)  and Coronavirus  Response  &  Relief                                                                    
Supplemental Appropriations  Act (CRRSAA)," dated  March 23,                                                                    
2021 (copy on file). He began on slide 2:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Two Types of Funding and Amounts Received                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
     Total: $337,499.5                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     CARES - $112,927.1 Enacted March 27, 2020                                                                                
     Federal Transit Administration - $28,801.4                                                                               
     Federal Aviation Administration - $82,501.1                                                                              
     Health and Social Services (The CRF) - $1,624.3                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     CRRSAA - $224,572.4 Enacted December 27, 2020                                                                            
     Federal Transit Administration - $55,786.5                                                                               
     Federal Aviation Administration - $44,383.9                                                                              
     Federal Highway Administration - $124,402.0                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Note: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding is not                                                                      
     included.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Pannone   relayed  that   each   fund   had  its   own                                                                    
requirements, uses, and guidance.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:25:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone turned  to slide 3,  How well   walk you through                                                                    
it:                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     • Authorized                                                                                                               
     • Available                                                                                                                
     • Eligibility                                                                                                              
     • Timeframe                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pannone said  he  would discuss  each  bullet point  in                                                                    
reference to each fund.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:26:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Pannone  turned   to  a   spreadsheet   on  slide   4,                                                                    
"Authorized." He said that the  slide illustrated the fiscal                                                                    
year in  the vertical and  the fund type in  the horizontal.                                                                    
He said that  all fund shad been  received initially through                                                                    
and RPL  request. He  said that the  slide showed  the funds                                                                    
that had  been received  and who had  received them  by year                                                                    
and fund type.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
He continued to slide 5,   Proposed.  He addressed the FY 22                                                                    
proposed  budget in  which the  department was  proposing to                                                                    
use  $17  million  of  FAA   Coronavirus  Aid,  Relief,  and                                                                    
Economic  Security (CARES)  Act  funds and  $2.7 million  in                                                                    
CRRSAA funds.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:27:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone discussed the FY 22 proposals on slide 6:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Dalton District Shift Change Two Week On/Two Week Off                                                                    
     (1,298.6 Fed  FHWA CRRSAA)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Reopening of Silvertip Maintenance Station                                                                               
     (620.0 Fed  FHWA CRRSAA)                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Reopening of Chitina and Birch Lake Maintenance                                                                          
     Stations                                                                                                                 
     (794.6 Fed  FHWA CRRSAA)                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Projected aviation fuel shortfall                                                                                        
     (276.4  FAA CARES/-276.4 DGF)                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Replace rural aviation UGF with FAA CARES Act funding                                                                    
     for a one-time swap                                                                                                      
     (-14,6000.8 UGF/14,600.8 Fed  FAA CARES)                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Rural Airport Paint Striping                                                                                             
     (2,302.3 Fed  FAA CARES)                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:31:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone  advanced to slide  7,  Available    Legislative                                                                    
Authority   Required,   which   showed  projects   requiring                                                                    
legislative authority. He relayed  that the current plan for                                                                    
the $11 million Alaska Rural  Airport System was to continue                                                                    
to supplant the  UGF in the rural airport  system into 2023.                                                                    
He said  that the $26.8  million could be mixed  and matched                                                                    
with the FAA  CARES funds in FY 22 to  preserve CARES funds.                                                                    
He  spoke  to the  $11.2  million,  which was  pass  through                                                                    
funding  that  went  to   the  Anchorage  Metropolitan  Area                                                                    
Transportation System (AMATS).                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:33:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Johnson   had  a  question   about  upcoming                                                                    
federal  funding   and  would   defer  to   colleagues  with                                                                    
questions related to the current slide.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Wool asked  whether  the FAA  money for  the                                                                    
Anchorage  area  and wondered  if  the  funding for  Merrill                                                                    
Field was included in the $11.294 million.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone  answered that the  $11.294 in FAA  CRRSAA funds                                                                    
was   for   the   metropolitan  planning   organization   in                                                                    
Anchorage. He  said the FAA  CARES funds involved  a formula                                                                    
develop  by  the  federal  government   and  had  a  portion                                                                    
dedicated  to  Merrill  field. He  said  that  debt  service                                                                    
payments factored into the formula.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson looked  at slide  2 and  expressed                                                                    
the understanding  that the state  could receive up  to $700                                                                    
million.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pannone answered  that  it was  difficult  to hear  the                                                                    
question.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson  said  that slide  2  showed  $225                                                                    
million and  the geo bond  proposed was $350  million, which                                                                    
was  $575  million.  He believed  that  the  entire  package                                                                    
totaled $700 million.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:37:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pannone  answered that  a  proposal  had not  been  put                                                                    
forward for  a significant portion  of CRRSAA funds  at this                                                                    
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Johnson referenced the  ARPA funds, the first                                                                    
tranche of  which was  expected to  be appropriated  in May.                                                                    
She thought  those funds  would be applicable  in the  FY 22                                                                    
budget.   She  asked   wondered   whether   there  was   any                                                                    
information about the funding.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone  discussed slide  8,  CARES  Eligible Activities                                                                    
and Requirements.:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Federal Transit Administration                                                                                           
     1.Operating expenses for all FTA 5311 recipients (non-                                                                     
     urbanized   areas).   Costs   necessary   to   operate,                                                                    
     maintain, and manage a public transportation system.                                                                       
     2.Prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19                                                                            
     3.Administrative leave,  such as  for employees  due to                                                                    
     reductions in service.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Federal Aviation Administration                                                                                          
     1.Any  purpose  for  which   airport  revenues  may  be                                                                    
     lawfully used.                                                                                                             
     2.CARES  grant  recipients   should  follow  the  FAA's                                                                    
     Policy  and Procedures  Concerning the  Use of  Airport                                                                    
     Revenues  ("Revenue Use  Policy"), 64  Federal Register                                                                    
     7696 (64  FR 7696), as  amended by 78  Federal Register                                                                    
     55330  (78 FR  55330). The  Revenue Use  Policy defines                                                                    
     permitted uses of airport revenue.                                                                                         
     3.May not  be used for  any purpose not related  to the                                                                    
     airport.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     CRF Section 5001 (d)                                                                                                     
     1.Necessary  expenditures incurred  due  to the  public                                                                    
     health  emergency  with   respect  to  the  Coronavirus                                                                    
     Disease 2019 (COVID19).                                                                                                    
     2.Not  accounted  for  in   the  budget  most  recently                                                                    
     approved as  of March 27,  2020 (the date  of enactment                                                                    
     of the CARES Act) for the State or government.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:41:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone spoke to slide 9, "CRRSAA Eligible Activities                                                                       
and Requirements.":                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Federal  Transit Administration    01/14/2021  Guidance                                                                  
     Received  updated 03/10/2021                                                                                             
     1.Operating expenses for all  FTA 5311 recipients (non-                                                                    
     urbanized   areas).   Costs   necessary   to   operate,                                                                    
   maintain, and manage a public transportation system.                                                                         
     2.Prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19                                                                            
     3.Priority-operating expenses                                                                                              
     4.Administrative leave,  such as  for employees  due to                                                                    
     reductions in service.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Federal  Aviation  Administration Guidance  Received                                                                     
     02/12/2021                                                                                                               
     1.Costs  related  to operations,  personnel,  cleaning,                                                                    
     sanitization,   janitorial   services,  combating   the                                                                    
     spread  of  pathogens  at  the  airport  and  for  debt                                                                    
     service payments.                                                                                                          
     2.Specifically  for   operating  expenditures  (airport                                                                    
     specific); no capital expenditures.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Federal  Highway  Administration  Guidance  Received                                                                     
     02/24/2021                                                                                                               
     1.Activities  eligible   under  23  USC   133(b)  e.g.,                                                                    
     capital, highway  infrastructure, ferry  vessel capital                                                                    
     projects                                                                                                                   
     2.May be  transferred to public  tolling agencies  or a                                                                    
     ferry  system  to   provides  a  public  transportation                                                                    
     benefit                                                                                                                    
     3.Preventative maintenance, routine maintenance                                                                            
     4.Operations, personnel                                                                                                    
     5.Debt service, availability payments                                                                                      
     6.Advance Construction                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:43:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Wool asked  about  the maintenance  stations                                                                    
and appreciated  they would reopen  with the  federal funds.                                                                    
He asked whether  it would be necessary to  determine how to                                                                    
fund the stations after the federal funds were gone.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone answered  in the affirmative. He  said that they                                                                    
were one-time items  that would need to be  addressed in the                                                                    
future.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:44:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone turned  to slide 10, showing when  the CARES and                                                                    
CRRSAA funds had  come to the state and when  they had to be                                                                    
expended:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     CARES: How long are the funds available?                                                                                 
     FTA   Expenses on or  after January 20, 2020; Available                                                                  
     until expended                                                                                                             
     FAA   Expenses on or  after January 20, 2020; Available                                                                  
     until April 29, 2024(FY2024)                                                                                               
     CRF    Expenses on  or after  March 1,  2020; Available                                                                  
     until December 31, 2021(FY2021)                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     CRRSAA: How long are the funds available?                                                                                
     FTA   Expenses on or  after January 20, 2020; Available                                                                  
     until expended                                                                                                             
     FAA    Expenses on  or after  January 20,  2020. Budget                                                                  
     period is  four years from execution  of grant (FY2024)                                                                    
     (Need authority by June 30, 2021)                                                                                          
     FHWA      Expenses  on  or  after   January  27,  2020;                                                                  
     Available for obligation until September 30, 2024                                                                          
     FHWA  Obligated balances are available for expenses                                                                      
     until September 30, 2029(FY2030)                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:47:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  LeBon  looked  at  slide  7,  pertaining  to                                                                    
airports.  He  asked  whether Alaska  International  Airport                                                                    
System  included  Fairbanks  International Airport  and  Ted                                                                    
Stevens International Airport.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone replied in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  LeBon  asked  how   the  money  was  divided                                                                    
between the two airports.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone answered that both  airports used funds from the                                                                    
International Airport  Revenue fund  (IRF). He said  that it                                                                    
was likely  the money would go  into the account to  be used                                                                    
for  debt   service  payments  at   Anchorage  International                                                                    
Airport or other operating expenses out of the IRF.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative LeBon  asked how  much control the  state had                                                                    
over the spending of the funds.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:49:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pannone  moved  from  left  to right  on  slide  7.  He                                                                    
explained  that the  $11,059.8 million  in  FAA CARES  funds                                                                    
could be  used at any rural  airport, to replace UGF  or for                                                                    
capital projects.  He shared that  the $17,560.9  million in                                                                    
CRRSAA  funds  was  locked  into  the  Alaska  International                                                                    
Airport System and had to be used for operating expenses.                                                                       
The $26,823.0  had to be  used for the Alaska  Rural Airport                                                                    
System and had to be  spent on operating expenses. He shared                                                                    
that there was flexibility in  the last two columns. He said                                                                    
that  the $108.264.3  could be  used  for capital  projects,                                                                    
routine maintenance,  or could  be transferred to  a tolling                                                                    
road  or  ferry  system.  He  stressed  that  the  $11,294.3                                                                    
million had to  be used by AMATS. He furthered  that the FTA                                                                    
monies could be distributed to  any of the 13, 5311 eligible                                                                    
transportation agencies  one of which was the AMHS.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:52:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson asked  that  except  for lost  tax                                                                    
revenue at  airports, it was  hard to measure  the influence                                                                    
of Covid-19  on highway. He  assumed that DOT could  be more                                                                    
flexible in terms of how the money was spent.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pannone  agreed.  The  funds   DOT  received  were  not                                                                    
necessarily  tied  to  Covid-19  impacts but  were  tied  to                                                                    
secondary impacts  of the pandemic.  For example,  there had                                                                    
been a motor fuel tax shortfall  of $3.5 million in 2020 and                                                                    
$3.3 million in 2021, which had been offset by CARES funds.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:53:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone pointed  out on Slide 9 the  dates when guidance                                                                    
had   been  received   from  the   federal  government.   He                                                                    
highlighted  the complexity  of the  guidance. He  said that                                                                    
there was  not a significant  amount of money coming  to the                                                                    
department from the FTA funds.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Wool  referenced  one of  the  ferries  that                                                                    
needed  cleaning at  the cost  of $1  million and  commented                                                                    
that some  of the funds  under discussion could be  used for                                                                    
that cleaning.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster discussed housekeeping.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:57:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 2:57 p.m.                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
DOT - HFIN CRRSAA CARES - 03.23.2021.pdf HFIN 3/23/2021 1:30:00 PM
HFC - AMHS Overview 03.22.2021 FINAL2.pdf HFIN 3/23/2021 1:30:00 PM
03.25.2021 DOT Response AMHS (Log 42) to HFIN.pdf HFIN 3/23/2021 1:30:00 PM