Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/27/2001 09:31 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 27, 2001
9:31 AM
TAPES
SFC-01 # 87, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Pete Kelly convened the meeting at approximately 9:31 AM.
PRESENT
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Loren Leman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Gary Wilken
Senator Alan Austerman
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donald Olson
Also Attending: Witnesses are listed in the summary information in
the order they testified.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
SB 29-REAPPROPRIATIONS & CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS
The Committee took testimony on SB 29. The bill was held in
Committee.
SENATE BILL NO. 29
"An Act making capital appropriations and capitalizing funds;
making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution
of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve
fund; and providing for an effective date."
DJ WHITMAN testified via teleconference from Seward, and voiced
concern about the funding allocation for the Seward Shipyard. He
noted that $1.5 million was "scheduled out for Ketchikan shipyard"
while there is only $1 million for the Seward shipyard. He stated
that both ports serve the Alaska Marine Highway System on a "fair
and equal basis" and Seward should be funded equally.
BEN CARDINO testified via teleconference from Seward, and indicated
that he felt the same way as Mr. Whitman. He noted that this was
not against Ketchikan, but that Seward should receive an equal
share of the money that was available.
Co-Chair Kelly directed attention to COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE SB 29,
22-GS1050/F, page 4, line 4 and the funding information on the
Seward Shipyard for $1 million.
Senator Leman noted that on page 68 of Version "F" is the
information on the funding for the Ketchikan shipyard. He informed
that it specifies $1 million of state funds that would be matched
by local funds of an additional $1.5 million. He commented there
might have been some misinformation on the amount of state funding
and hoped this would clarify it.
Co-Chair Kelly commented that was a good point.
DAVID BROSSOW testified via teleconference from Seward, and
commented that Seward would like to be given the opportunity to
receive "fair and equal treatment" where funding is concerned.
Senator Austerman responded to comments from the Seward witnesses
by stating that the Ketchikan funding was based on a need for a
feasibility study for an expansion project there. He asked if there
was any expansion program planned for Seward.
Mr. Whitman answered, on behalf of Seward's dry-dock operations,
that there is an expansion plan for Seward's dry-dock, and it is
just as critical to them as Ketchikan's is to Ketchikan.
Senator Leman stated that he had seen the expansion plan for the
Ketchikan shipyard, but had not seen Seward's. He asked, if one was
available, to let the Committee members know where it was so they
could look at it.
Co-Chair Kelly added that the $1 million for Seward was not in the
governor's budget, but had been added at the request of Senator
Torgerson.
NATHAN ORR, Seward City Council, testified via teleconference from
Seward, and thanked Senator Torgerson and the Committee for their
consideration. He commented that most of the improvements that had
been done at the Seward dry-dock were done with private business
funds. With these additional state funds, he added, and perhaps
with a match by Seward city funding, the yard could be taken o
another level of service.
JAMES PRUITT, President, Seward Ships Dry Dock, testified via
teleconference from Seward, commented that his company and Seward
are on "a development path." He appreciated the funding support
that could create jobs for the community and boost economic
development.
Co-Chair Kelly commented that when planning a capital budget, there
is a limited amount of money available, and it is not just one
community in competition with another, but all communities in a
sense are in competition with each other. He said that Senator
Torgerson did an "outstanding job" finding $1 million for the
community of Seward.
JANET MCCABE, Board of Directors, Downtown Progress in Anchorage,
testified via teleconference from Anchorage, asked for the addition
to the budget of $272,000 for the Anchorage Wellness Court, a
therapeutic court at the District Court level. She said that this
"program works by getting to the core of the problem". She
continued that the court was extremely cost effective because it
offset the costs of jail time, alcoholism treatment, court time,
and other costs incurred by alcoholism.
Co-Chair Kelly stated $75,000 is allocated for the Wellness Court,
and he thought that was the level of current need. He noted further
discussion could take place during the budget process if that
funding was inadequate.
AT EASE 9:40 AM/10:57 AM
ADJOURNMENT
Co-Chair Pete Kelly adjourned the meeting at 10:57 AM
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