The capital budget passed by the Alaska Legislature and awaiting transmittal to Gov. Sean Parnell for his signature — or possible vetoes — officially totals $3.18 billion.
Some, however, say the sum is actually about $4 billion when additional money for an in-state natural gas pipeline and scholarships is included.
For Juneau, the budget contains $77.5 million in specific projects, as well as additional money for the region or state that was also a high priority for the Juneau legislative delegation.
“If you go through the projects, there’s a lot of benefits for Juneau, there’s some great harbor projects, including the cruise ship dock project and DeHart’s Marina,” said Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau.
The city’s cruise ship dock project downtown will get $7.5 million, while DeHart’s, now owned by the city, is in line for $5 million to replace failing docks there, she said.
In addition to big projects such as the $17 million Brotherhood Bridge replacement and numerous small grants to community groups, there are also regional projects such as the $10 million Southeast Energy Fund.
That’s a small amount compared to big energy projects in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka in recent years that cost tens of millions each, said Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau.
But it can go far in neighboring communities were people are hurt and business development is hampered by a reliance on diesel fuel for electrical generation, he said.
The delegation also got funding for the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Southeast Alaska Native Cultural & Visitor Center downtown on the former Skinner Building site.
Sealaska expects the project to cost $16 million, of which the state money would just be a part, Muñoz said.
“That’s the end of the state money they are requesting, they are going out to foundations” for additional support, she said.
After the Legislature formally transmits the budget to Parnell, he’ll then have 20 days to sign it our use his line-item veto to remove or reduce dollar amounts in it.
Rep. Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau, predicted “deep” vetoes, but said she hoped that she and other members of the Juneau delegation, as well as community members, had made strong cases for the projects they supported.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or at patrick.forgey@juenauempire.com.
Comments (6)
Add commentProposed budget items for Juneau
I would sure like to see Thane Road get some re-paving done. It is really in a sorry state. I do not live out there, but I'd bet it gets a is bit more traffic than Bessie Creek.
That is going to happen in
That is going to happen in 2012 along with flattening of the curve by the Ore House.
No public money for religious groups
It is wrong to divert public money to religious charities. It violates separation of church and state.
Even though Catholic Community Services and Juneau Cooperative Christian Ministries do seemingly nice things for Juneau, it's still wrong.
Particularly disturbing is the program, "Bring the Kids Home" program CCS is sponsoring.
Think about this.
The Catholic church worldwide has a stained reputation as an institution which preys on children! Then, the church goes to great lengths to cover it up and to protect its priests. This corruption goes all the way up to the current pope.
Public money should in no way fund anything having to do with religious institutions who abuse children on a mass scale.
Shame on the legislator who proposed that into the budget.
2 000 000.00 For AEL&P (WTF?)
I thought my rates had just gone up 22% to cover the costs of such things. Now our goverment is going to hand over 2M more! All I can say is "What the ---- ?"
Slap!
2m more to disappear into AEL&P's books.
Ditto Joe M. Unless CCS can at least pretend to not be a directly religious offshoot by removing 'catholic' from their name I would say they shouldn't qualify for it at all. Everyone would like to pretend there is objective use of services depending on need but it likely works just as well as all the native "assistance". The insiders get the cream and priority on the lists and maybe a few scraps fall off the table.
$90,000 for affordable housing
$90,000 for affordable housing is a joke, it will only give 90 people rent for one month in Juneau.