Some western Interior capital projects get second life in supplemental budget
4-4-08
KIYU

Original audio version of story, as heard in the April 4, 2008 newscast

Many of the capital projects that Governor Sarah Palin vetoed last year have been given a second life, as part of the supplemental budget that the Governor signed into law yesterday. 

However, she again used her veto powers to reject, or at least delay, almost 58 million dollars worth of building or renovation projects.  Most of the projects intended for rural Alaska escaped her veto to receive authorization.   

12.4 million dollars worth of projects were approved for the Bush. 

Those projects include: 

• 40 thousand dollars for phase 1 of a multi-purpose building in Huslia 

• 75 thousand dollars for fuel tank remediation in the Yukon Koyukuk School District.   

• 40 thousand dollars for community hall improvements in Grayling 

• 50 thousand dollars for improvements to the city hall in Holy Cross 

• 50 thousand dollars for a feasibility study on relocating the landfill in Russian Mission. 

Most of the recycled funding requests were deferred by Palin, who decided that they should not be funded now, but instead should be thrown into next year’s capital budget for reconsideration.   

The deferred projects include a 50 thousand dollar project for KSKO McGrath to extend electrical power to their transmitter site.  

The supplemental budget approved by Governor Palin yesterday releases about 26.5 million dollars for Power Cost Equalization payments - about 12.3 million of that coming from the PCE Endowment, and 14.2 from the State General Fund. 

Another 1.2 million dollars is directed towards PCE, to cover the increased payouts stemming from higher fuel prices.    

The bill also gives 180 million dollars to a community revenue sharing fund. 

A handful of city governments were singled out to receive grants, including about 245 thousand dollars for Galena, 82 thousand for Tanana, and 52 hundred for Huslia. 

Lawmakers are considering a joint session to override the Governor’s vetoes in the supplemental budget.  To override the vetoes, the three-quarters of the legislature must vote to do so.