On Thursday I met with Governor Palin to discuss the Alaska Mental Health Trust’s proposal to build a state office building on property that the Trust owns in the Subport area.  We are working on enabling legislation that will allow the Trust to access $25 million in Trust funds currently held in the Permanent Fund, and to bond the remaining $25 million secured by the long-term state leases of the new office space. 

This is a great opportunity for Juneau - the first major investment in state office infrastructure in the capital city in many years.  It will not only provide a pleasant working environment for our state employees, but will allow the Trust to develop its’ property in a highly desired commercial area of our community.  The current hodge podge of state owned and leased facilities for the Fish and Game, Labor and Public Safety departments are in dire need of upgrades, and private leases will soon need to be renegotiated.