District 1 slated to receive
more than $258 million...
AK Legislature Passes Capital Budget, Includes Education Funding
May 12, 2004
Wednesday
Ketchikan, AK - On the eve of the last day of the legislative
session, State House and Senate leaders agreed on a spending
plan that will fund numerous capital projects around the state.
The Conference Committee on Senate Bill 283, which included
members of both legislative bodies, ended its work late Monday
night with an amended bill that combines the supplemental budgets
for fiscal year 2004 and the 2005 capital budget. Representative
Bill Williams (R-Saxman), chair of the House delegation to the
Conference Committee, said the agreement was historic in scope.
"Not only does this bill have millions of dollars for vitally
needed construction, it includes the largest single increase
in funding for education in Alaska ever. As co-chairman of the
House Finance Committee, I was in charge of shepherding the Capital
budget through the legislative process. This is the first year
that we have combined that budget with the supplementals and
the education funding bill," he said.
The Capital budget allocates
funds for construction projects and major purchases by government
and non-profit agencies. Representative Williams said that District
1 is slated to receive more than $258 million in Capital investment
in a number of needed projects. This total includes $215 in
federal money that is earmarked for the Ketchikan Gravina Bridge
project.
Representative Williams, who
is completing his twelfth year as a State Representative and
his fourth as co-chairman to the Finance Committee, said he takes
his responsibility to his constituents seriously. "My experience
and my position in the leadership gives me a special opportunity
to make sure that the people of District 1 are not shortchanged
when it comes to important government services. Every one of
the projects that we funded in this bill will strengthen our
region's economy and improve our quality of life," he said.
Capital Budget Funded
Projects for House District 1:
| City
of Ketchikan Harbor Float Electrical Program |
$100,000 |
| Houghtaling,
Point Higgins, Valley Park, White Cliff Schools: |
each $12,500 |
| North
Tongass Volunteer Fire Department: |
$100,000 |
| Ketchikan
Area Youth Court: |
$25,000 |
| Ketchikan
Senior Center: |
$25,000 |
| Ketchikan
Area State Parks Advisory Board: |
$25,000 |
| Tongass
Avenue Water & Sewer Improvements: |
$1,471,200 |
Department of Transportation/Public
Facilities (Federal Receipts):
| Ketchikan
Airport Overlay & Runway Safety Upgrade: |
$21,850,000 |
| Alaska
Marine Highway Terminal - Saxman: |
$ 1,250,000 |
| North
Tongass Highway Widening/Realignment: |
$ 3,400,000 |
| Tongass
Highway resurfacing, sidewalk, drainage improvements: |
$ 1,300,000 |
| Tongass
Highway viaduct replacement & rehabilitation: |
$2,200,000 |
| Coffman
Cove Seaplane Float relocation: |
$1,100,000 |
| AMHS
Coffman Cove Terminal: |
$3,000,000 |
| Coffman
Cove Road: |
$8,000,000 |
Congressional Earmarks:
| Gravina
Island Crossing: |
$215,000,000 |
| Ketchikan
Airport Improvements: |
$500,000 |
Projects funded by
Re-Appropriation in House District 1:
| Saxman
Community Center project development & construction: |
$250,000 |
| Ketchikan
Community Center for the Arts: |
$250,000 |
| Ketchikan
Pioneers' Home flat roof replacement: |
$150,000 |
Source of News Release:
Office of Rep. Bill Williams
Web
Site
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