Governor Parnell’s proposed budget has good things for Juneau
December 15, 2011
Governor Parnell today opened the first round of the state budget debate
by releasing his operating and capital spending plans for the fiscal
year that starts July 1, 2012.
They add up to $12.1 billion of which $6.4 billion are state general
funds. Thanks to robust oil prices, which the state estimates will
average over $109 a barrel a year, the governor will create a $3.7
billion surplus. No other state in the union is as lucky as ours to have
that kind of fiscal outlook, especially in these unstable economic
times.
As is customary, a governor gets the first and last word on a state budget. And what I heard today was encouraging.
Here are some of the highlights for Juneau:
- $20 million in state general funds for the new State Library, Archives, and Museum project.
This proposed facility now has $32.4 million and needs another $94.5
million. The governor’s $20 million is a good step in the right
direction.
- $9.2 million in state general funds for the Douglas Island state office building.
This is a good chunk of the $17.6 million needed to help pay for
replacing concrete steps, landings, and 25,000 square feet of exterior
walls. It would be the first of a three-phased project. According to
state officials, workers will remain in the facility during renovations –
thus staying in Douglas where they may frequent local businesses and
continue to play a vital role in the town’s economy.
- $2.5 million in state general funds to repair the Alaska State Office Building garages. This is the first part of a three-phased project that is estimated to cost a total of $7.5 million.
- $2.2 million in state general funds for upgrades at the Juneau Pioneer Home.
The money will be used to fix up the covered walkway and replace boiler
pipes, counter tops, linoleum, and all of the building’s 249 windows.
- $2 million in state general funds to fix up Aurora Harbor by building three new floats, a gangway that the disabled may use, and new electrical, water, and utility systems.
- $10 million in federal funds for Glacier Highway,
between Fritz Cove Road and Seaview Avenue near Auke Bay Elementary
School, to reconstruct, widen, and repave it, improve intersections,
drainage, lighting, guardrails, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities, and
add a center-turn lane.
- $1.5 million in federal funds to fill up potholes and repave Yandukin Drive and Simmons Drive near the airport.
All of this is significant because having a governor – any governor –
include a project in his own capital budget increases the likelihood of
that item making it through the legislature and back onto the governor’s
desk for approval.
During his budget announcement and press conference, Governor Parnell
set the right tone of cooperation in building next year’s state budget
with the legislature. Furthermore, what he said and did is on track with
what he and his administration have communicated to the Juneau
legislative delegation about renovating state office buildings and
supporting the State Library, Archives, and Museum project.
During the press conference, the governor was asked whether $20 million
was enough for that last item. With a laugh, he joked, “I have to leave
something for Juneau legislators to do!”
And that we will do. We will work with each other as a team, as usual,
and with the governor and other lawmakers to get more for this project
and be sure Juneau is treated fairly in the budget.
We have our work cut out for us next session, but I appreciate that we
can work toward securing funding that we need, knowing that Governor
Parnell already has shown his support by putting these projects on the
table.
For more on his budget, go to the Office of Management and Budget web site: http://omb.alaska.gov/html/budget-report/fy-2013-budget/proposed.html
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