Legislature(2009 - 2010)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/04/2009 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE


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09:03:11 AM Start
09:08:54 AM Fy10 Budget Overview and Fy09 Supplemental
10:35:34 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ FY10 Budget Overviews & FY09 TELECONFERENCED
Supplemental
Karen Rehfeld, Dir. Office of Management
and Budget
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
                  SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                      February 4, 2009                                                                                          
                         9:03 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:03:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman called the Senate  Finance Committee meeting                                                                   
to order at 9:03 a.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice-Chair                                                                                             
Senator Johnny Ellis                                                                                                            
Senator Kim Elton                                                                                                               
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Senator Joe Thomas                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Karen  Rehfeld, Director,  Office of  Management and  Budget,                                                                   
Office  of  the Governor;  John  Boucher,  Senior  Economist,                                                                   
Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Governor.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
^FY10 Budget Overview and FY09 Supplemental                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
KAREN  REHFELD, DIRECTOR,  OFFICE OF  MANAGEMENT AND  BUDGET,                                                                   
OFFICE  OF THE GOVERNOR,  initiated the  general overview  of                                                                   
the FY10  budget. She  explained that  the budget goals  have                                                                   
been consistent:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
   · Slow the growth of government                                                                                              
   · Live within our means                                                                                                      
   · Save for the future                                                                                                        
   · Focus on core services                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
        o Constitutional and statutory responsibilities                                                                         
        o Invest in responsible resource development                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  questioned the phrases "slow  the growth of                                                                   
government" and "live within our  means." He wanted to better                                                                   
understand the expressed goals.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  agreed  that discussion  about  the  goals  was                                                                   
important.  She referred  to HB  125,  the long-range  fiscal                                                                   
plan  [enacted  in  2008].  The  plan  allows  the  state  to                                                                   
continue  providing  important  state  services  and  to  use                                                                   
responsible  budgets  and  prudent reserves.  The  plan  will                                                                   
allow the state  to survive the next ten years  until revenue                                                                   
from the gasline will be available.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld explained  that slowing the growth  of government                                                                   
means  providing critical  state services  with a  reasonable                                                                   
amount of  growth. The long-range  plan released  on December                                                                   
15,  2008  recommended  slowing  growth to  a  three  percent                                                                   
increase. She  acknowledged the pressures on  the budget, but                                                                   
the  plan would  allow  management of  the  budget until  the                                                                   
first gas revenue.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:08:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  asked if slowing  government down  to three                                                                   
percent a year was in reference to the operating budget.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld explained that the  long range plan includes both                                                                   
operating  and capital  budgets.  The starting  point is  the                                                                   
FY09 budget. Adjustments  are made with information  from the                                                                   
revenue  picture and draws  made from  reserve accounts.  She                                                                   
maintained that living within  the state's means combines the                                                                   
fiscal  discipline of  slowing government  agency growth  and                                                                   
the  wise  use   of  reserves  to  advance   the  state  when                                                                   
necessary.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JOHN  BOUCHER, SENIOR  ECONOMIST,  OFFICE  OF MANAGEMENT  AND                                                                   
BUDGET, OFFICE  OF THE GOVERNOR  explained that  one critical                                                                   
aspect  of  the  long  range   plan  was  the  assumption  of                                                                   
inflation  at  2.75  percent   and  population  growth  at  1                                                                   
percent.  He described  the important  goal of ensuring  that                                                                   
government  spending  was less  than  the sum  of  population                                                                   
growth plus an assumed inflation rate.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman thought  that the target  of three  percent                                                                   
increase  was  reasonable.  He   admitted  having  difficulty                                                                   
parsing  out  the government  growth  aspect  concerning  the                                                                   
operating  versus the  capital  budgets or  a combination  of                                                                   
both.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  advised that  the three percent  was based  on a                                                                   
total  of  operating   and  capital  budgets   including  all                                                                   
expenditures seen over time.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:12:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman commended his  Co-Chair on his work with the                                                                   
operating budget.  He expressed  concerns that the  operating                                                                   
budget  would  devour  the  capital  account.  The  operating                                                                   
account has risen  the past three years. He  suggested dialog                                                                   
on this  issue. The operating  account is a difficult  entity                                                                   
to  reduce.  He  hypothesized   that  he  would  not  see  an                                                                   
operating account below that of the previous year.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman shared  concerns  about the  growth of  the                                                                   
combined operating and the capital  budgets. He stressed that                                                                   
a lean capital budget eases control of spending.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman commented  that the  legislature must  look                                                                   
beyond  the  money   designated  to  the  general   fund.  He                                                                   
suggested  viewing  total  state   spending,  which  includes                                                                   
"other state funds" or "Alaska  funds." He discouraged moving                                                                   
funds  between the  general  fund and  other  state funds  to                                                                   
artificially present lower state  spending. He judged this as                                                                   
a game, deceptive to the public.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:16:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas asked if the concept  of slowing the growth of                                                                   
government included the implementation  of proven concepts in                                                                   
education, prevention, and intervention.  Ms. Rehfeld replied                                                                   
that the administration  was looking ahead  for opportunities                                                                   
to improve  in areas  like education.  Certain costs  require                                                                   
attention. A modest  increase of the budget  is necessary for                                                                   
certain  agencies and  state public employees  to maintain  a                                                                   
reasonable amount of growth over time.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld commented  on the use of different  fund sources.                                                                   
She  commended  the  productive  work done  last  session  in                                                                   
discussing  the use of  different fund  sources and  how they                                                                   
were  presented   to  the  public.  She  stressed   that  the                                                                   
administration  had attempted  to address concerns  presented                                                                   
by  Co-Chair Stedman  and improve  their  reporting of  other                                                                   
funds.  She pointed  to  Alaska Housing  Finance  Corporation                                                                   
funds, which were aligned in the fiscal summaries.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:19:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton  commented on  the supplemental budget  request                                                                   
and the allocation  of $6 million for state  parks, which was                                                                   
designated  as  other funds  and  classified  as cruise  ship                                                                   
gambling tax. He asked why the  money was classified as other                                                                   
funds versus general funds.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Hoffman  asked  to   postpone  further   questions                                                                   
regarding the supplemental budget.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  explained  that  the  differences  between  the                                                                   
method  used   to  present  the   December  budget   and  the                                                                   
Legislative  Finance  Division's   budget  analysis  was  the                                                                   
treatment of the  gambling tax and use of the  Alaska Housing                                                                   
Capital  Corporation  Fund. She  stated  that  she and  David                                                                   
Teal,  Director,  Legislative   Finance  Division  agreed  to                                                                   
disagree regarding the general funds column.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:22:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  explained  that  it was  helpful  to  have  the                                                                   
general  funds  column  remain  specific  to  the  forecasted                                                                   
revenue  and   that  confusion  was  avoided   by  adding  or                                                                   
subtracting other items from that column.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman referenced the  Alaska Constitution, Article                                                                   
IX, Section  16 an appropriation  limit, which  addressed the                                                                   
growth  of the  operating  account  relative  to the  capital                                                                   
account. Article IX states: "Within  this limit, at least one                                                                   
third  shall  be  reserved  for  capital  projects  and  loan                                                                   
appropriations."   He    requested   the   return    of   the                                                                   
administration for  an explanation of Article  IX, Section 16                                                                   
and  the  appropriation  allocation   between  operating  and                                                                   
capital budgets.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  agreed  to  return   for  the  discussion.  She                                                                   
proceeded  to the  discussion  of the  budget  as a  planning                                                                   
tool. The fundamental building blocks are:                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
   · Focus on core state services                                                                                               
   · Find efficiencies in service delivery                                                                                      
   · Identify savings or reductions                                                                                             
   · Redirect existing resources, where possible, to higher                                                                     
     priority items, and                                                                                                        
   · Limit growth in operating budget.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  pointed out the allocation of  capital money                                                                   
to the  Department  of Transportation  and Public  Facilities                                                                   
(DOT/PF).  The  account required  reinforcement  because  the                                                                   
inflation  rate   was  consuming  the  assets.   Ms.  Rehfeld                                                                   
admitted that the  issue of reinforcement was  a problem. She                                                                   
stressed  that  the administration  was  continually  working                                                                   
with  the departments  to  improve  the method  of  business.                                                                   
Complexities  result  in  lengthy processes,  but  the  state                                                                   
government can do a better job of addressing the problems.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:26:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  reviewed  FY09 revenues  and  expenditures.  In                                                                   
December 2007,  the administration estimated revenue  of $5.3                                                                   
billion  with oil  prices at  $66.32 a  barrel. The  December                                                                   
2007 request for  budget and savings appropriations  was $4.6                                                                   
billion.  The  revised forecast  in  May 2008  reflected  the                                                                   
increased price  of oil and  $7.5 billion in  revenue. Energy                                                                   
challenges due  to the increased  price of oil  were apparent                                                                   
and  there was  an  expectation  of more  surplus  available.                                                                   
Following the  special session there  was a rapid  decline in                                                                   
oil prices that segued into the  fall forecast projecting $77                                                                   
a barrel in  2009 bringing the revenue to $6.8  billion. With                                                                   
oil prices continuing  to decline, the Department  of Revenue                                                                   
(DOR) provided an  interim forecast with oil at  $63 a barrel                                                                   
or $5.5 billion in revenue.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  referenced the  supplemental bill introduced  on                                                                   
February  3, 2009,  which anticipated  a  shortfall of  $1.36                                                                   
billion  in  the  current  fiscal   year.  The  challenge  is                                                                   
significant,  but  options  exist   to  address  the  revenue                                                                   
shortfall.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:29:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld   explained  that  Governor  Palin   signed  the                                                                   
appropriation bills on May 23  2008, with instructions to the                                                                   
departments  to achieve at  least $20  million in savings  in                                                                   
the  operating  budget.  She   explained  the  hiring  freeze                                                                   
implemented January 23, 2009.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld delineated  steps  taken  to address  a  revenue                                                                   
shortfall:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
   · Governor Palin signed the appropriation bills on May                                                                       
     23, 2008, with instructions to the departments to                                                                          
     achieve at least $20 million in savings in the                                                                             
     operating budget.                                                                                                          
   · Freeze hiring and purchases issued January 23, 2009.                                                                       
   · FY09 supplemental bill proposes $268.6 in reductions in                                                                    
     current year authorized expenditures and the overall                                                                       
     spending plan.                                                                                                             
   · Seeks legislative approval for use of reserves.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:31:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins  asked about  the  $20 million  savings.  He                                                                   
asked  if  the administration  received  a  savings  forecast                                                                   
report.  Ms. Rehfeld  explained that  the administration  had                                                                   
asked the departments to report  quarterly. During the second                                                                   
quarter  the  departments  were  on  track  for  about  $11.3                                                                   
million  of the  savings targets.  The  Department of  Public                                                                   
Safety and  the Department of  Military and Veterans  Affairs                                                                   
were   held   harmless   from  the   savings   targets.   The                                                                   
supplemental bill  is about $17.5 million of  the $20 million                                                                   
target  allocated  to the  departments  as  a result  of  the                                                                   
savings  plans.  She  believed  that this  was  a  reasonable                                                                   
expectation given the plans put in place.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins asked  for savings allocations at  the end of                                                                   
the  second  quarter.  Ms.  Rehfeld  agreed  to  provide  the                                                                   
requested information.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton  asked if the hiring freeze  included positions                                                                   
paid for with federal funds. Ms. Rehfeld answered no.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman commented  that he  was also interested  in                                                                   
the breakdown  requested by Senator  Huggins, because  of the                                                                   
$13.3  million in  allocated reductions.  He  wanted to  know                                                                   
where the $20 million  goal came from. He felt  that a couple                                                                   
of key components were missing  from the FY09 budget process.                                                                   
He recalled that  $245 million was vetoed out  of the capital                                                                   
budget.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  recounted a fall appropriation  request for                                                                   
nearly  $1  billion  to  a  special   energy  dividend  in  a                                                                   
declining  oil environment.  Spending  would  have been  much                                                                   
greater  if every request  from the  administration  had been                                                                   
approved.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:35:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  answered that  the picture looked  significantly                                                                   
different  when the  one-time resource  rebate was  approved,                                                                   
due to the high  price of oil. Many requests  were related to                                                                   
gasline infrastructure. Given  the revenue picture today, the                                                                   
administration  has  significantly modified  their  requests.                                                                   
The FY10  budget has  a request for  $80 million  to continue                                                                   
advancing  the gas line  project. She  stated that  the items                                                                   
that were not  approved would not be brought  forward at this                                                                   
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman reviewed the  FY08 budget cycle and requests                                                                   
for  a  public   education  endowment  of  $1.5   billion,  a                                                                   
transportation  endowment  of  $.5  billion,  and  an  energy                                                                   
endowment of  $500 million. He  thought the energy  endowment                                                                   
was acceptable, but pointed out  that if the administration's                                                                   
advice had been  followed there would be a  greater shortfall                                                                   
today.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:38:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld agreed  that many ideas were brought  forward for                                                                   
the  legislature's  consideration, including  the  education,                                                                   
energy and state funded transportation  funds. She remembered                                                                   
agreements  reached  regarding  savings  proposals  including                                                                   
savings appropriations  to the Constitutional  Budget Reserve                                                                   
(CBR), the Statutory Budget Reserve  (SBR), and the Renewable                                                                   
Energy Fund                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  illustrated  that  the  hiring  freeze  was  an                                                                   
attempt to seek  additional savings. Mechanisms  exist within                                                                   
the  hiring freeze  for agencies  to request  a waiver.  Many                                                                   
positions  are exempt  from the  hiring  freeze because  they                                                                   
provide public service. Vacant  positions include 844 general                                                                   
funded positions;  of these, 291  are exempt from  the hiring                                                                   
freeze;  remaining are  550 state-wide  positions subject  to                                                                   
the  hiring   freeze  or  waiver  request   process.  Savings                                                                   
achieved as  a result  of the hiring  freeze will  lapse into                                                                   
the CBR and reduce the draw amount at the end of the year.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:42:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Elton requested  that the Office  of Management  and                                                                   
Budget (OMB) share the collected data with the committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  requested a copy  of a document  identifying                                                                   
the  different departments  and their  hiring mechanisms  for                                                                   
the  subcommittee  review  process. He  requested  a  monthly                                                                   
synopsis  of   requested  waivers.  He  asked   if  half-time                                                                   
employees  would be  allowed  to work  full  time within  the                                                                   
hiring freeze criteria.   Ms. Rehfeld surmised  that a change                                                                   
from  a  part-time  to  a full-time  position  would  not  be                                                                   
subject to  the hiring freeze.  Senator Huggins  thought that                                                                   
might be a  loophole. He expressed interest  in understanding                                                                   
the rule.  Ms. Rehfeld agreed  to provide information  to the                                                                   
committee regarding  the hiring freeze [see  OMB letter dated                                                                   
02/09/09  (copy on file)].  The potential  yearly savings  is                                                                   
$12 million. The requests are logged and will be provided.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:45:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  explained  that departments  were asked  to find                                                                   
further  reductions,  update  savings  plans  and  scrutinize                                                                   
existing appropriations  for potential reductions.  The total                                                                   
of general fund spending reductions is $268.6 million.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman addressed the  supplemental budget. He asked                                                                   
for  an  explanation  of  the  $50  million  placeholder  and                                                                   
whether or not it was part of the budget.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld explained  that the place holders  appear in both                                                                   
OMB and Legislative Finance's  fiscal summaries. She informed                                                                   
the committee that the $50 million  place holder has remained                                                                   
consistent   in  fiscal   summaries   that   roll  into   the                                                                   
calculation  of the  increase  in the  operating budget.  The                                                                   
spending plan for FY09 includes  a portion of the totals. The                                                                   
total  expenditures, including  the  $50 million,  constitute                                                                   
the  shortfall  and  require   accessing  the  Constitutional                                                                   
Budget  Reserve. The  placeholder  reduces  the amount  drawn                                                                   
from the CBR.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked for further  information regarding the                                                                   
$200 million reduction  of authorization for  tax credits. He                                                                   
asked if the  authorization allowed the treasury  to purchase                                                                   
tax credits from  small gas and oil producers  that might not                                                                   
have the ability to sell tax credits to a larger producer.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:51:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld explained  that $400 million was  included in the                                                                   
FY09 budget  for payment  of the tax  credits. This is  a new                                                                   
program. The  Department of Revenue  indicated that  the full                                                                   
$400  million  would  not  be  spent due  to  timing  of  the                                                                   
applications  from  companies  wishing  to  receive  the  tax                                                                   
credit   and   the   payment   of  the   tax   credits.   The                                                                   
administration intended  to reduce the authorization.  With a                                                                   
short fall  of over  $1 billion,  the administration  felt it                                                                   
appropriate   to  accurately   reflect   the  Department   of                                                                   
Revenue's updated estimate for this fiscal year.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  expressed confusion  regarding the  CBR and                                                                   
balancing  the books.  He concluded  that  the future  budget                                                                   
looks  worse than  the  current budget  if  $200 million  was                                                                   
intended as  a call  on the treasury  this year,  but instead                                                                   
was moved to FY10.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld suggested that the  legislature will have choices                                                                   
regarding the $200 million appropriation.  The administration                                                                   
deemed it  appropriate because  the money  would stay  in the                                                                   
tax credit fund. The administration  does not anticipate that                                                                   
$200 million worth of payments will be made.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:55:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  thought that  the new  amount would  be $19                                                                   
million for the  supplemental budget if the  $200 million was                                                                   
no  longer  in  the  tax credit  fund  and  the  $50  million                                                                   
placeholder  was not  an  issue.  He asked  if  this was  the                                                                   
difference in the treasury.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  admitted  that   the  supplemental  budget  was                                                                   
unusual. Typically,  increases in the  budget as a  result of                                                                   
unanticipated  expenditures are  seen in supplemental  bills.                                                                   
Agencies were asked  to do things differently  in the current                                                                   
fiscal  year.  The  current  request is  a  decrease  in  the                                                                   
authorization for the year and what will be spent.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked for the  impact on the treasury if the                                                                   
$200 million and the $50 million are not included.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:59:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Rehfeld   stated   that    placeholders   and   reduced                                                                   
authorizations  have  always been  included  as  part of  the                                                                   
overall spending  plan. She suggested  that both  amounts are                                                                   
important to include in the overall picture.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  for the  total.  Ms. Rehfeld  stated                                                                   
that  every   proposed  transaction   with  the   backup  was                                                                   
available on the internet.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman   voiced  that  the  $200   million  is  an                                                                   
expenditure that is beyond the  control of the legislature or                                                                   
the  governor.  He opined  that  it  was  not a  savings.  He                                                                   
pointed out that five months remain  in the fiscal year exist                                                                   
to work the issue out.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman understood that  from the current viewpoint,                                                                   
a possibility  exists that  the credits could  be put  to the                                                                   
treasury in the next five months.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton  suggested that constituents are  confused when                                                                   
they hear  about a  $268 million  savings. The committee  has                                                                   
identified that  $200 million  is not necessarily  a savings.                                                                   
He appreciated  the  important discussion  because the  media                                                                   
portrays the governor  as saving $268 million,  which has not                                                                   
happened.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:02:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld pointed out that spending  is reduced if the $200                                                                   
million is not spent.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton discerned that if  the state does not spend the                                                                   
$200  million this  year then  it  will be  spent next  year,                                                                   
which is not  a savings to the treasury. The  action suggests                                                                   
that because  the money is not  spent this fiscal  year, $200                                                                   
million were saved. He opined  that describing the issue as a                                                                   
timing issue confuses Alaskans.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld reminded  the committee  that authorization  for                                                                   
spending is necessary for the  access of reserves. Section 20                                                                   
of the supplemental bill includes  the request to utilize the                                                                   
CBR at the end of the fiscal year to balance the budget.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins asked  what  the anticipated  amount  needed                                                                   
from the  CBR might  be. Ms.  Rehfeld answered  approximately                                                                   
$1.36 billion. The amount will  not be known until the end of                                                                   
the  fiscal year,  when all  of the  actual expenditures  are                                                                   
completed.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins asked  if there were  any other  anticipated                                                                   
modifications to lessen the amount needed.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  asked  if  Senator  Huggins  was  referring  to                                                                   
specific   proposed  reductions.   She   supposed  that   the                                                                   
supplemental bill traveling through  the legislature provided                                                                   
the opportunity to  change the budget, but at  this point the                                                                   
next review will be of the FY10 budget.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  asked if the administration  was accepting a                                                                   
$1.3 billion shortfall.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:04:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  concurred  that that was  the current  estimate.                                                                   
She  pointed  to the  $8  billion  in reserve  accounts.  She                                                                   
suspected that there would be  considerable discussion in the                                                                   
legislature  and  the  public  about  the  best  use  of  the                                                                   
reserves. As  of December 31,  2008, there was just  under $7                                                                   
billion  in reserve funds,  split almost  evenly between  the                                                                   
main fund  and the  sub-fund of  the CBR.  There is  also one                                                                   
billion dollars  in the Statutory Budget Reserve,  $1 billion                                                                   
in  the Public  Education  Fund  and  $342.3 million  in  the                                                                   
Alaska  Housing  Capital  Fund.   There  will  be  additional                                                                   
discussion about  the Alaska Housing Capital  Fund because in                                                                   
the  FY10 budget  there is  a  proposal to  spend about  $238                                                                   
million of the $342.3 million.  These numbers may change when                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
amendments are rolled out on February 18,2009.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  asked if  the  SBR  amount of  $1  billion                                                                   
                                      st                                                                                        
suffered  losses  as  of  December  31,   2008.  Ms.  Rehfeld                                                                   
answered  that the balance  received from  the Department  of                                                                   
                                         st                                                                                     
Revenue was $1 billion as of December 31.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  asked  why   there  were  not  losses.  He                                                                   
wondered if they  were invested or not. Mr.  Boucher answered                                                                   
that the SBR was  invested in the same manner  as the general                                                                   
fund, which is  more conservative and liquid. The  SBR is not                                                                   
subject to  as much volatility  as the  CBR. He did  not have                                                                   
the exact numbers, but agreed to provide them.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:07:08 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton asked  why budget deficits would  be drawn from                                                                   
the SBR, where losses are minimized, rather than the CBR.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  responded that the  possibility of  drawing from                                                                   
the SBR also exists. The administration  sought authorization                                                                   
to  access the  CBR because  it  appeared that  more than  $1                                                                   
billion would be necessary to balance the budget.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  requested more data from OMB  regarding the                                                                   
main and sub-accounts of the CBR.  He asked for market values                                                                   
as of the  end of January as  well. His major concern  is the                                                                   
savings. He did not want yearly  treasury draws necessitating                                                                   
a draw  on the  sub-account. He  thought this  would put  the                                                                   
state in  a position of  falling back on  a weak link  in the                                                                   
savings.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:10:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  asked about the Alaska Housing  Capital Fund                                                                   
of $342.3 million  and the earmarking of $300  million toward                                                                   
a pipeline provision.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms Rehfeld affirmed that the earmarking  had been the subject                                                                   
of   some  debate.   She  stated   that   $300  million   was                                                                   
appropriated by  a prior legislature into the  Alaska Housing                                                                   
Capital  Fund. The  prior  administration  believed that  the                                                                   
money   was  set   aside  for   gasline  expenditures.   Many                                                                   
legislators  believed  that  the  money  was  set  aside  for                                                                   
capital projects. The $342.3 million  was the sum of the $300                                                                   
million  plus  accrued interest.  The  proposal  in the  FY10                                                                   
budget is to spend a portion for gas line related projects.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  requested the  amount of money  contributed                                                                   
                                                        st                                                                      
to the  CBR and those  market values  as of December  31.  He                                                                   
suggested  subtracting  the $238.4  million  from the  $342.3                                                                   
million  in the FY10  budget resulting  in  a net number  for                                                                   
savings.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:13:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  explained  that the  presentation  intended  to                                                                   
display  funds  that  were available  in  the  current  year.                                                                   
Adjustments  to the  FY10 budget  would be  necessary if  the                                                                   
legislature  or  administration   chose  to  appropriate  the                                                                   
funds.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld remarked  that the  economic  stimulus bill  was                                                                   
moving   quickly.  Resolutions   are   being  discussed   for                                                                   
submittal to Congress  on this issue. Appropriations  will be                                                                   
brought  forward in  a  separate bill.  Changes  in the  FY10                                                                   
budget are  expected in  relation to  the current version  of                                                                   
the Economic Stimulus Plan.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  observed that  railroad maintenance  was not                                                                   
integrated  into the  stimulus plan.  He would  like to  have                                                                   
stimulus    money   aid   in    railroad   connections    and                                                                   
readjustments. He  opined that the railroad  industry was not                                                                   
integrated into  the stimulus  plan, although there  was time                                                                   
to make changes.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  expected that  the Department of  Transportation                                                                   
and Public Facilities was the  best department to address the                                                                   
query.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:16:33 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld proceeded with the FY10 Budget Overview.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     · December 15 budget proposes to spend less general                                                                        
       fund dollars in FY10 than we are spending in the                                                                         
       current year- $49 billion compared to $5.2 billion                                                                       
       (comparison excludes resource rebate).                                                                                   
     · Budgeted $389 million below the fall forecast of                                                                         
       $5.27 billion.                                                                                                           
     · Interim forecast will be provided on February 18                                                                         
       along with budget amendments.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins  asked about  the  anticipated  drop in  oil                                                                   
prices and the administration's  plan to initiate the process                                                                   
of reducing the FY10 budget.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  explained that  the administration  is currently                                                                   
engaged  in the  process  of reducing  the  FY10 budget.  She                                                                   
stated that  changes will be  provided on February  18, 2009.                                                                   
The  Department of  Revenue will  provide  the formal  spring                                                                   
forecast. The department also provides interim forecasts.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:19:12 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld discussed Budget Highlights:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
    · Operating                                                                                                                 
         · K-12 Education $1.05 billion                                                                                         
         · Revenue Sharing $60 million                                                                                          
         · Retirement system unfunded liability $451.2                                                                          
           million                                                                                                              
         · Exploration tax credits $300 million                                                                                 
         · State employee contract increases $31 million                                                                        
    · Capital                                                                                                                   
         · Gas line projects $82.1 million                                                                                      
         · Renewable Energy Fund $50 million                                                                                    
         · School Major Maintenance $40.5 million                                                                               
         · Water and Sewer $114.8 million                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Elton   asked  about  school  maintenance   and  the                                                                   
allocation  of   $40.5  million.   He  asked  if   the  major                                                                   
maintenance list  was submitted to the federal  government as                                                                   
part  of  the  federal  stimulus   package  or  would  it  be                                                                   
accomplished using general funds.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  thought  that  there   were  several  different                                                                   
iterations  in  the  development  of  the  economic  stimulus                                                                   
package addressing schools. She  believed that the Department                                                                   
of Education  did attempt  to analyze  projects on  the major                                                                   
maintenance list that would meet  those criteria, but she was                                                                   
not  sure  if  that element  was  in  the  economic  stimulus                                                                   
package  as most  funds come  to the  state as  a grant  or a                                                                   
formula.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:21:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman asked  about  school construction  and  its                                                                   
absence from the capital list.  He wondered why this area was                                                                   
ignored.  He   inquired  about  the  Kasayulie   case  and  a                                                                   
potential settlement  eliminating it  from the capital  list.                                                                   
The case  revolves around  the issue  of adequate schools  in                                                                   
rural Alaska.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  did not think that  the case had  been resolved.                                                                   
She  recommended  contacting   the  Department  of  Law.  The                                                                   
current focus is on existing facilities  and buildings rather                                                                   
than new ones.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  remembered   the  legislature  authorizing                                                                   
school   districts   to   indebt   the   state   for   school                                                                   
construction.  The  governor   signed  the  legislation,  but                                                                   
continues to ignore the Kasayulie  case, which gave him grave                                                                   
concern.  He  asked  that  the message  be  conveyed  to  the                                                                   
administration regarding  the need for approved  spending for                                                                   
school  construction  in  rural  Alaska. He  wished  for  the                                                                   
ongoing lawsuit to be settled.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:25:00 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  stated that  she would  deliver the message  and                                                                   
find a way to resolve the issue.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  pointed out  that the  George Morgan  Sr. High                                                                   
School in  Lower Kalskag burned  down last week. He  asked if                                                                   
there was consideration for new construction of the school.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld  recalled  that the Department  of Education  and                                                                   
the Fire Marshalls  office were evaluating the  needs for the                                                                   
school including the insurance  coverage. She stated that she                                                                   
would bring the  information to the committee as  soon as she                                                                   
had it.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson asked  if that  meant  that there  would be  a                                                                   
provision  under the capital  budget to  include the  school.                                                                   
Ms. Rehfeld  answered that she  had not received  the request                                                                   
for a provision from the Department of Education.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman discussed  the retirement  system with  the                                                                   
contribution to unfunded liability  of $451.2 million. He was                                                                   
pleased  to  see  this  in  the   budget.  He  asked  if  the                                                                   
administration  planned  to  review the  status  of  unfunded                                                                   
liability  and  to  adjust  the  number in  the  event  of  a                                                                   
substantial revenue  decline. Ms.  Rehfeld answered  yes that                                                                   
the contribution  would be preferred,  but stressed  that the                                                                   
revised forecast would tell more.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  thought that it would be  prudent to adjust                                                                   
the  amount,  although he  was  thankful  to  see it  in  the                                                                   
budget.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Rehfeld introduced  a chart outlining the  budget request                                                                   
and the  provision of statewide  programs and  services (copy                                                                   
on file).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:33:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  asked if there  would be assistance  in the                                                                   
Alaska  Natural Gas  Pipeline  Development Authority  (ANGDA)                                                                   
bullet line. Ms. Rehfeld stated  that there is not a specific                                                                   
appropriation  for  the bullet  line.  She believed  that  $5                                                                   
million would be designated to ANGDA.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  requested   better  understanding  of  the                                                                   
difference in the capital expenditures.  He read $1.7 billion                                                                   
on   Ms.   Rehfeld's  presentation,   yet   understood   that                                                                   
legislative finance  had arrived  at $1.8 billion  in capital                                                                   
expenditures.  He  asked if  a  portion  of this  amount  was                                                                   
allocated  to the legislature.  Ms. Rehfeld  stated that  she                                                                   
could not  answer the  question. Co-Chair  Stedman agreed  to                                                                   
address the subject later.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins asked  about money allocated  for the  ANGDA                                                                   
line. He asked  if a portion would be allocated  for a bullet                                                                   
line provision.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Rehfeld   stated  that   there   is  not   a   specific                                                                   
appropriation  for  the  bullet  line.  She  understood  that                                                                   
discussion was  necessary to assist  the development  of that                                                                   
project. She did not have a request  for funding for a bullet                                                                   
line, it required a piece of legislation to move foreword.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:35:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  addressed  the Permanent  Fund  Dividend  (PFD)                                                                   
payment and inflation proofing.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  asked for the dividend amount  with 675,000                                                                   
people living in Alaska. Ms. Rehfeld  did not know the amount                                                                   
of the  PFD, and deferred the  question to the  Department of                                                                   
Revenue.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Rehfeld  explained that  the  goal  was to  protect  the                                                                   
economy  and   to  move  the  state  foreword.   Savings  and                                                                   
efficiencies  are sought.  Budget reductions  are made  where                                                                   
practical.  Management tools  have  been implemented  through                                                                   
the hiring freeze  and the restriction of  purchases. Prudent                                                                   
use of reserves will be necessary.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  commented  on  the  complexity  of  budget                                                                   
reductions versus budget surplus.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 AM                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Galvin Revenue Forecast 020509.pptx SFIN 2/4/2009 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 2/5/2009 9:00:00 AM
OMB 20609 $20 Mill Savings with Enclosures.pdf HFIN 1/26/2009 1:30:00 PM
SFIN 2/4/2009 9:00:00 AM
Supplemental Submitted February 2 2009.xls SFIN 2/4/2009 9:00:00 AM
SFC Q&A Op Budget 3-5-09 with attachments.pdf SFIN 2/4/2009 9:00:00 AM