House OKs $165 million for Valley

PALMER — Though the number will probably come down a bit once the governor gets done wielding his red pen, as of now the state has earmarked nearly $165 million for Valley projects and organizations.

The state capital budget, passed out of the House of Representatives at the 11th hour on Saturday just before the body adjourned for the session, totals about $3.8 billion, which is more than Gov. Sean Parnell has publicly said on multiple occasions he is willing to stomach.

The total for the Valley includes local and state projects, and one of the biggest in the state — $65.7 million to the Alaska Energy Authority to go toward the Susitna Hydroelectric Dam.

The state will work on a number of other million-dollar projects in the Valley if the budget remains as is. There’s $1.5 million to design and build barracks at the Alcantra Armory, $2.16 million to complete deferred maintenance at the same armory, $1 million to build a scenic overlook at Hatcher Pass.

Trunk Road Phase II, a state project that will bring the new road up to Palmer-Fishhook Road, is also in the budget to the tune of $10 million.

The capital budget reverses a compromise reached at the end of the session on funding for the Goose Creek Correctional Center by restoring $1.2 million cut from the $3.6 million the Department of Corrections initially sought.

The second largest Valley appropriation is destined for the Mat-Su Borough and constitutes the second installment of cash for the Port MacKenzie Rail project. The budget contains $37.5 million to continue work connecting the fledgling port to the Alaska Railroad’s main line.

The borough has a host of million-dollar appropriations, including $1.5 million to expand classrooms at Academy Charter School, $1 million to replace a bridge over Bodenburg Creek and $3 million to replace substandard roads and bridges.

There’s also $10.7 million for work on projects at the Talkeetna Airport; $5 million for improvements and $5.7 million to repave it.

The city of Wasilla also gets a couple of million-dollar line items in the budget. There’s $5 million to work on the Main Street couplet that would put one-way streets running north-to-south in downtown. There’s another $3.1 million to work on access to the Wasilla Airport.

The school district would receive $16.2 million for network wiring of its facilities.

Notable appropriations below a million dollars include:

• $785,000 for a turf field at Colony High School.

• $800,000 for a similar field at Palmer High School.

• $750,000 for a wood-fired boiler at Su Valley High School.

• $500,000 to the Alaska Farmland Trust that preserves local farms.

• $450,000 for the city of Houston to buy a fire tanker.

• $420,000 to the Sunshine Community Health Center to build a clinic.

• $150,000 to replace the roof of the Mid-Valley Senior Center.

• $100,000 to improve sidewalks in the city of Palmer.

Finally, the smallest Valley appropriation of the year would go to the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce, $8,000 to build a pavilion at Fish Creek Park.

The budget is currently waiting to be sent to the governor. After it is sent, the governor has about a month to decide on his list of items he has decided to cut from the budget.

The Legislature can then chose whether or not to override the governor’s cuts.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.