Parnell's budget doesn’t forget Mat-Su

MAT-SU — It’s just a starting point, but still a promising one for the Valley with multiple, million-dollar projects included in the governor’s budget.

Gov. Sean Parnell released his 2014 budget — used traditionally as a first draft in the legislative session — Thursday.

“This balanced budget spends less than the current year,” Parnell says in a press release. “As we prepared this budget, we faced the facts — oil production is down, and oil prices, too, have decreased. Production decline and the increasing cost of producing Alaska’s oil profoundly impacts Alaska’s revenues.”

Parnell’s budget is $1.1 billion less than last year’s. The Legislature usually adds to the budget, rather than subtracts from it, during its work in Juneau.

As for the Valley, the biggest chunk of money in the budget for a Mat-Su project is heading to the state Department of Transportation in the form of $29 million to upgrade the Parks Highway from Lucus Road to Big Lake Road.

The project, which is in the planning phases and already has a website — parkshighway44-52.info — has been taking fire from the city of Wasilla whose mayor, Verne Rupright, has said he thinks that a divided four-lane highway could be detrimental to commerce. The state says that a five-lane highway with a center turn lane simply doesn’t adequately address safety concerns.

The next largest appropriation is for a project that isn’t really a Mat-Su Borough project, but is one the borough has prioritized — the Knik Arm bridge. Parnell proposes putting $10 million in a reserve fund for the project.

The plan is to build the crossing with private money that would be paid back through toll revenues.

The reserve is planned to make up for toll shortfalls projected in the bridge’s early years.

Next on the list is $4 million for a “pavement preservation” project on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway extension between Parks Highway and Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Parnell also wants to spend $3.65 million reconstructing the Glenn Highway from Mile 53 to Mile 56 in the Moose Creek Canyon area.

The city of Palmer, as it has for other portions of the project, is in the governor’s budget for $3.09 million worth of replacements to its decrepit steel water main system.

The Alcantra armory off of Bogard Road is set for $1.54 million worth of deferred maintenance projects.

Speaking of deferred maintenance — one Parnell’s favorite programs in last year’s budget cycle — there’s $200,000 heading to the Palmer Correctional Center in Sutton for deferred maintenance and another $545,000 for deferred maintenance in Mat-Su area state parks.

Parnell also wants to spend $200,000 for the first phase of a target shooting facility in the Knik River Public Use Area. The target shooting facility was one of multiple recommendations contained in documents establishing the public use area. The idea was to have target shooting away from dangerous, impromptu spots along the river and into a controlled environment.

Finally, the governor wants to spend $400,000 for another study in Big Lake. Last year the Legislature funded a study of impacts to the area from nearby rail and port projects.

This year, the $400,000 would study airport planning in the area.

“The governor’s proposed capital budget provides a good framework to address statewide infrastructure,” Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Butte, says in a press release reacting to the budget. As co-chair of the House Finance Committee, he will oversee that body’s drafting of a budget.

“I plan to work closely with my colleagues in the House and Senate to craft a capital budget that attempts to meet as many community and regional needs as possible, while living within our means,” Stoltze says.

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