Veto pen slices Valley projects

MAT-SU — The Mat-Su Borough fared much better this year in the state’s capital budget, Assistant Borough Manager Marian Romano said this week, calling Gov. Sarah Palin’s recent vetoes “not as painful.”

Still, there are some projects in the Valley vetoed out of money for upgrades or expansion, Romano said. Among those are boiler upgrades for Big Lake Elementary School, new emergency medical services equipment for the Big Lake/Meadow Lakes area, Nancy Lake Peninsula Road rehabilitation and land acquisition for the Sutton Library.

The losses will impact each organization differently, but overall Romano said the Borough is pleased with what was left in the state budget.

“We’re very pleased for the things we have,” Romano said Wednesday. “There’s a lot of important stuff in here.”

One particular appropriation the Borough staff is excited about comes in the form of more than $17 million for the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension. Romano said development like that helps the Borough economically and starts a process that can reduce private property tax rates when development in the area increases.

Perhaps the largest veto on the list that affects the Borough cuts $25 million for a Matanuska Electric Association transmission line to the yet-to-be-built Point MacKenzie prison. It’s a move MEA doesn’t understand.

“Our initial reaction is disappointment,” MEA spokeswoman Lorali Carter said.

Carter said it’s hard to talk in much detail about the veto because MEA is unclear about Palin’s reasoning in vetoing the funds. While MEA is not actively seeking comment from Palin, Carter said the organization is waiting to see what unfolds with the governor’s new energy plan. If the transmission line to Point MacKenzie state prison doesn’t receive some state funding help, Carter said it will fall on the Borough to find funding for the project.

To do that, Borough Purchasing Officer Russ Krafft said local government is working with the state to find an alternative source of power to Point MacKenzie. Krafft also said officials are hoping next year’s state budget will see some state money going toward extending lines to the prison.

Recycling and turf

For Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, losing $1 million dollars from the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions appropriation is disappointing.

“I think that has such a long-term benefit,” Gatto said of the center, which received $1 million of an asked-for $2 million. “It lost it last year and got half this year.”

But half is better than nothing, said the recycling center’s executive director, Mollie Boyer.

“We are really happy that our governor and our state have come through and given us a million dollars,” Boyer said.

Calling the Valley recycling initiative a model for the state, Boyer said the appropriation, along with a $2.5 million commitment from the Borough and money from fund-raising efforts, will go directly to a new building located at the Borough’s Central Landfill. Looking to build before the cost of steel and fuel rise higher, Boyer said now is the time to apply the state’s money to begin construction as soon as possible.

“We’ve worked hard, laid a lot of plans and we’re going to continue on,” Boyer said.

On the sports end, Gatto said he is also disappointed the Palmer High School Field Turf Project did not receive all of a $1.5 million appropriation. The turf field is something long overdue in the Valley, he said, adding that with turf, Valley athletes could begin their seasons earlier and not be so dependent on Mother Nature.

Palmer High School also missed out on money appropriated for new bleachers, with a stroke of Palin’s veto pen.

Where the Borough did fare well is with money for road projects, Gatto said.

“We got lots of money for Trunk Road,” Gatto said. It is just one of the many road projects that will receive state funds in the next fiscal year.

In the northern end of the Valley, the Willow Area Community Organization lost out on $13,775 for emergency supply storage. Another line item veto saw Valley Performing Arts lose $30,000 for a facility expansion.

The state’s 2009 Capital Budget was nearly $3.87 billion; Palin vetoed $268 million.

A full PDF document showing all state requests for money and vetoes can be found at ww1.matsugov.us/images/stories/news/approved%20capital%20budgetwvetoesr.pdf

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiers-man.com or 352-2252.