Sponsor Statement for SB 37

G.O. Bonds for Schools and University

I introduced SB 37 to focus attention on the new school construction and school repair needs in the state. The legislature's 1993 municipal bond authorization for urban school projects has been exhausted. In the last three years the legislature has additionally appropriated $8.5 million for military base schools and another $7 million for one new school and five repair projects. The state's efforts to keep pace with the classroom needs of increased student populations and the maintenance of existing facilities is seriously lagging. I believe that without a new and bold financial commitment, the prospects for our public education system are overcrowded classrooms in dilapidated or temporary structures.

The bill authorizes the issuance, upon voter approval, of nearly $171 million in general obligation bonds for the repair, upgrade, and construction of public schools and University of Alaska facilities. The list of school projects is taken from the most current review and compilation by the Department of Education of school districts' construction and repair needs. I have added an unspecified $30 million for the University of Alaska's outstanding needs at its various campuses.

In the last three years, the governor and the legislature have made a serious commitment to bringing the state's spending obligations into balance with its revenue income. Capital budgets have necessarily been limited to approximately $100 million in general fund spending. Once the federal match programs for transportation and water and sewer projects are accommodated, there is not much left for everything else. Certainly spending only $5 to $10 million a year for schools won't even keep pace with the major maintenance repair needs. With this reality in mind, I believe we must look to other ways to finance our school construction and repair needs. SB 37 is another way.